The Vice President of Chega’s Jurisdiction Council, Ana Caldeira, is currently on trial for charges of qualified fraud and document forgery. The legal professional allegedly attempted to defraud a former business partner by falsifying the signature of a woman who passed away in 2015, according to reports from a national news outlet on Thursday.
The incident dates back to March 2022, when Caldeira, who is also a lawyer, persuaded a former partner to lend her 6,000 euros, claiming it was urgently needed by a client. She promised the return of 10,000 euros within six months.
The debt acknowledgment contract and the Authentication Term, both recorded on the Portuguese Bar Association’s website, were allegedly signed by Maria Amélia Martins, the client in question. However, Maria Amélia Martins had died in March 2015.
The Public Prosecutor (MP) has alleged that the lawyer forged the signature “with the intent to claim the amount of 6,000 euros as her own.”
Although the principal amount was paid back, the promised interest remains outstanding.
The party leader, André Ventura, has reportedly stated that he was unaware of the situation but mentioned that there would be repercussions.
