The Tribunal da Relação de Lisboa has ruled that there are “strong indications” of corruption-related crimes in the case involving Ex-Mayor of Funchal Pedro Calado, Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia. According to Diário de Notícias, the decision partly reverses a February 2024 ruling by an investigating judge that had dismissed some of the suspected crimes for lack of sufficient indications. The higher court said the file contains enough evidence for several accusations to remain under investigation, including passive corruption, active corruption, improper receipt of advantages and qualified tax fraud. The ruling states that one defendant is linked to three crimes involving the undue receipt or offer of advantage, one crime of passive corruption and one crime of aggravated tax fraud, while a second defendant is linked to one such crime and a third to one crime of active corruption. The court did not identify in the ruling which accusations correspond to each defendant. It also stressed that “strong indications” do not amount to a conviction, but only mean the case can continue through the judicial process. Despite the findings, the judges kept only the basic “termo de identidade e residência” measure in place for the three defendants, requiring them to provide their address and remain available to the court.
