The NOW channel reports that the Lisbon Court of Appeal has confirmed strong indications of corruption in the case known as “Operation Zarco.” The investigation was launched on the 24th of January 2024 and led to about 130 searches in Madeira, the Azores, and the mainland. The newly disclosed judgment is said to reverse the view taken by the investigating judge, who in February 2024 had minimized the evidence collected. The ruling follows the Supreme Justice Court’s decision to annul the coercive measures and order a fresh review by the Court of Appeal. The case involves former mayor Pedro Calado and businessmen Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia. One defendant faces three crimes of receiving or offering an advantage, one crime of passive corruption, and one of qualified tax fraud. Another is accused of active corruption, while the third is charged with undue offer or repayment of advantage.
