Lisbon, May 20, 2025 (Lusa) - The trial of the Espírito Santo case related to alleged corruption by former Banco do Brasil executives began in Lisbon on Tuesday, with the four defendants choosing to remain silent.
The case involves eight defendants, including former banker Ricardo Salgado, 80, who was excused by the court from appearing at the trial due to Alzheimer's disease.
In his opening statements, the lawyer for the former chairman of Banco Espírito Santo (BES) lamented that the defence is "hamstrung by the cognitive absence" of his client and criticised the overlapping dates of the trial that began today with those of the so-called Banco Espírito Santo Angola (BESA) case, both taking place at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon.
"This defence is fighting a trawl justice system, which, as we see here, deprives the defendant of his right to be present, while at the same time devaluing the illness that prevents him from being present," said Francisco Proença de Carvalho.
Earlier, the presiding judge had reminded the court that lawyers could be replaced in the sessions by others of their choice, through the use of a substitute.
The Public Prosecutor's Office and the defence lawyers for the other defendants waived their right to make introductory statements.
The first session of the trial was attended by the defendants João Alexandre Silva, former director of BES Madeira and currently a consultant in Dubai; Humberto Coelho, former employee of a subsidiary of the Espírito Santo Group (GES) in Dubai; and Miguel Freitas and Sofia Freitas, lawyers.
The other defendants are Ricardo Salgado, the latter's law firm, and former BES/GES employees Paulo Nacif Jorge and Paulo Murta.
The charges include corruption to the detriment of international trade and money laundering.
The Public Prosecutor's Office filed the indictment in December 2021, and the Central Criminal Investigation Court issued a preliminary ruling confirming that the defendants would stand trial in July 2024.
According to an August 2024 note from the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action, the acts under suspicion, committed between 2011 and 2014, are related to financing through credit lines in the Interbank Money Market and in the context of documentary credit (letters of credit).
Although they have not been charged, a former vice-president of Banco do Brasil and the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA suppliers are also involved in the case.
The defendants are alleged to have obtained gains of around €12 million.
The trial will continue on 7 July with the hearing of witnesses.
IB/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
