Socrates and Santos Silva pronounced by three bleaching crimes

Former Prime Minister José Sócrates and ‘friend’ Carlos Santos Silva were pronounced by the Central Court of Criminal Instruction, on Wednesday, for three bleaching crimes, in a process extracted from Operation Marquis.

José Sócrates was responsible for six crimes in this secondary process, but three prescribed.

According to the instructional decision, whose reading took place this Wednesday, there is “consistent evidence” of the practice of bleaching crimes.

“The defendants’ version does not appear credible. Deliveries in cash is not in line with the normal rules of a loan. Everything indicates that the money was Socrates. His personal account (by José Sócrates) was always missed. There is evidence that José Sócrates served the account of João Pen, then driver, to receive money from Carlos Santos Silva. money envelopes, ”said the criminal instruction judge

The magistrate also understands that these crimes must be tried together with the main proceedings, whose trial is scheduled for July 3.

At issue is the alleged use, between 2011 and 2014, by the defendants of bank accounts of a company controlled by Carlos Santos Silva, his wife, Inês do Rosario, and João Pern, driver of José Sócrates.

The defense of the former prime minister, who was not present at this session, reiterates that the instruction of the case « was made based on a charge from which the defendants were never notified » and that, therefore, this decision should also be considered null.