During today’s session of the Operation Marquês trial, Carlos Santos Silva’s former account manager at Banco Espírito Santo (BES) testified about noticing an unusual transfer involving “hundreds of thousands of euros” to an unfamiliar beneficiary, accompanied by a detailed description indicating it was for the “down payment on a real estate transaction.”
“I didn’t know the transfer’s beneficiary and searched Google, entering the name [Maria Adelaide Monteiro], discovering she was José Sócrates’ mother. That prompted me to report it,” Ana Vaz explained, noting her concern was heightened by the businessman not informing her in advance about the transaction.
In the Operation Marquês indictment, the Public Prosecutor’s Office alleges the funds actually belonged to José Sócrates, suggesting the Lisbon property transaction was a means for the former Prime Minister between 2005 and 2011 to access funds allegedly derived from corruption.
In her testimony, Ana Vaz also recounted Carlos Santos Silva mentioning a friend wanting to buy property in Alentejo, with him guaranteeing financing of 850,000 euros using a financial pledge against a term deposit of the same amount, with debit authorization if the buyer couldn’t pay the loan.
“At the time, the beneficiary’s name didn’t mean anything to me, but again, I checked online, finding Sofia Fava had been married to José Sócrates,” she said.
Ana Vaz confirmed regular transfers of about two thousand euros per month to Sandra Santos, a woman residing in Switzerland reportedly close to the former Prime Minister.
During a testimony session disrupted by José Sócrates’ lawyer, Pedro Delille, who threatened to leave the court after being reprimanded over a question, the banker also revealed reporting to her superiors about Carlos Santos Silva requesting bank staff to cash checks.
On this matter, Ana Vaz noted she became aware of “withdrawals around 10,000 euros occurring with noticeable frequency,” questioning the businessman about their purpose and receiving an “ambiguous response that [the amounts] were for expenses.”
The indictment by the Public Prosecutor’s Office claims these cash withdrawals were meant for individuals connected to José Sócrates.
The alleged acts took place between 2012 and 2014.
The former Prime Minister and Carlos Santos Silva, both aged 68, are among 21 defendants in Operation Marquês, accused by the Public Prosecutor of a total of 117 economic and financial crimes.
The defendants generally deny any illegal conduct.
The trial has been ongoing since July 3 at the Central Criminal Court in Lisbon, with sessions scheduled at least until December 18, 2025.
