Former Funchal mayor Pedro Calado and the two businessmen arrested three weeks ago as part of the investigation into suspected corruption in Madeira will be released today, under an identity and residence order, the investigating judge has ruled.
According to the order issued by Judge Jorge Bernardes de Melo, of the Central Criminal Investigation Court in Lisbon, the least severe precautionary measure was applied to former mayor Pedro Calado (PSD), as well as to businessmen Avelino Farinha, leader of the AFA construction group, and Custódio Correia, the main shareholder of the Socicorreia construction group.
On Friday, the Public Prosecutor’s Office had requested pre-trial detention, the most severe measure, for the three defendants.
The term of identity and residence, which is mandatory when someone is constituted a defendant, consists of identifying the person and indicating their residence, as well as the obligation to appear before the authorities whenever there is a notification.
The defendant may not change his residence or be absent for more than five days without notifying the place where he can be found.
On January 24, the Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out around 130 house and non-house searches, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and various parts of the mainland, as part of a case that investigates suspicions of active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, receiving or offering undue advantage, abuse of power and influence peddling.
On that day, the PJ arrested the then mayor of Funchal, who has since resigned, and the two businessmen.
The president of the Regional Government of Madeira (PSD/CDS-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, was indicted and ended up resigning from office, which implied the resignation of the executive.
The case involves suspicions of active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, receiving or offering undue advantage, abuse of power and influence peddling, according to the PJ.
According to court documents to which Lusa has had access, the Public Prosecutor’s Office states that social democrats Miguel Albuquerque, Pedro Calado and Avelino Farinha established, “over time, a relationship of particular proximity and trust” which benefited that business group “contrary to the rules of free competition and public procurement”.
Among the contracts under criminal investigation, according to the court documents, are the concession for the public passenger road transport service on the island of Madeira, the Curral das Freiras cable car concession, the Praia Formosa redevelopment project and Funchal Jazz 2022-2023.
