The indictment reveals that, based on the plan devised by the three defendants, they successfully convinced the victim to hand over a total of 219,985 euros, which the defendants appropriated.
In January 2017, the victim met the lawyer, 52, residing in Marinha Grande, through a property purchase he made. The indictment noted that upon realizing the man, who emigrated from France, had a substantial financial status, the lawyer informed another defendant, 56, and her son, also a lawyer, aged 27.
Subsequently, they agreed to deceive the victim into handing over large sums of money, which the defendants intended to integrate into their assets.
The lawyer then contacted the emigrant, suggesting he take a capital loan to purchase a retirement home in Palmela.
As per the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP), the lawyer falsely claimed that this loan would be in favor of the other defendant and would last only one year until a bank loan, soon to be approved, could be secured.
The lawyer also offered interest at 10% and assured it was a lucrative business generating high monthly returns.
Convinced of the investment’s profitability, the victim agreed to lend 220,000 euros, providing it in several installments through bank checks, which allegedly were not returned.
In September 2019, the lawyer, falsely implying an intent to repay the borrowed amounts while continuing the defendants’ premeditated plan, issued a check for 7,000 euros as interest payment, which the emigrant cashed.
At the beginning of 2020, the emigrant repeatedly requested the repayment of the borrowed amounts from the two defendants, who delayed, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for the inactivity and the awaited bank loan.
The lawyer commented, “I am expecting money from Switzerland, from a man who will buy the retirement home.”
According to the MP, the defendants stopped responding to the emigrant’s calls. When he traveled to Portugal in March, he managed to formalize a unilateral mortgage contract, including acknowledgment of debt and a repayment agreement, with one of the defendants and “her family members as guarantors.”
The guarantors mortgaged five real estate properties they owned and inherited as payment security.
Through this contract, the lawyer falsely assured the repayment of the borrowed sums and committed to pay 244,860 euros (the loan amount plus interest) by May 30, 2020, failing which, to transfer a property to the victim.
Claiming she needed the funds to register the agreement—which proved unnecessary—the victim faced an additional total loss of 4,460 euros.
The victim also paid another 3,525 euros in fees.
The trial is scheduled for December 11 at the Judicial Court of Marinha Grande.
