PPO Appeals Decision To Release Calado And Other Defendants
The Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) accuses former Funchal mayor Pedro Calado of lying during interrogation and appeals the decision to release him and construction entrepreneurs Avelino Farinha and CustĂłdio Correia. The PPO requests judges at the appeals court to review the decision and suggests preventive measures instead of re-detaining him.
Allegations Surrounding The Central Hospital Project
Pedro Calado's alleged falsehoods include claims about the state of the Madeira Central Hospital Project upon assuming office in 2017. The PPO asserts that government financing approval during Calado's tenure contradicts his statements.
One of the examples used by the prosecutor of the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action refers to the fact that the former mayor said that when “it arrived in 2017 to the Regional Government of Madeira practically everything was already established in the project of the hospital” central Madeira. According to Expresso, the Public Ministry guarantees, in contrast, that “it was in the mandate of the defendant Pedro Calado who was approved the financing of 50% by the Government of the Republic for the construction of the new Hospital of Madeira, which happened by deliberation of the Council of Ministers of September 27, 2018.”
PPO Urges Preventive Measures In 300-Page Appeal
In its nearly 300-page appeal to the Lisbon Court of Appeal, the PPO argues that the risks identified during the initial interrogation persist and suggests alternative measures to incarceration. These measures include prohibiting contact between defendants, restricting access to government facilities and implicated companies, and surrendering passports.
Fear of Witness Intimidation
The PPO expresses concerns that the defendants' personalities may lead to intimidation of witnesses and officials from Madeira's regional and municipal sectors, such as current mayor Christina Pedra. These concerns underpin the PPO's call for preventive measures. The PPO's appeal seeks to overturn the decision made in February, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance given the ongoing risks identified during the initial investigation.
Source: Observador, Expresso
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