The Supreme Court of Justice (STJ) announced that the initial session of a high-profile trial involving 16 defendants is scheduled for 9:30 AM on October 29.
The trial’s first session will take place in the STJ’s courtroom, with subsequent sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Military Tribunal in Lisbon, Campo de Santa Clara, according to the STJ.
Previously, it was indicated that the trial should commence in October, but the exact date was pending the resumption of court activities post-judicial holidays.
Commencing on this date means the trial starts four days after the Sport Lisboa e Benfica presidential elections on October 25, where Luis Filipe Vieira is a candidate for re-election.
On May 14, the STJ appointed a new panel of judges for the “Operação Lex” case, highlighting concerns over the high number of judges nearing retirement, which causes “serious constraints.”
The STJ clarified that the case, involving former judges like Luis Vaz das Neves (former president of the Lisbon Court of Appeal) and Rui Rangel, as well as ex-Benfica official Luís Filipe Vieira, was reassigned in March. However, the lead judge, counselor Jorge dos Reis Bravo, requested retirement.
Following this, a digital draw on May 13 selected a new panel made up of counselor José Piedade and adjunct judges Ernesto Nascimento and Jorge Gonçalves—two of whom were part of the former panel.
The “Operação Lex” case, prosecuted by the Public Ministry, includes allegations of corruption, abuse of power, undue receipt of advantages, tax fraud, money laundering, document forgery, and usurpation of functions.
The investigation, led by deputy attorney-general Maria José Morgado, who is now retired, focused on the activities of Rui Rangel, Fátima Galante, and Luis Vaz das Neves. They allegedly used their positions at the Lisbon Court of Appeal for personal or third-party benefits.
The “Operação Lex” investigation gained notoriety on January 30, 2018, with the arrest of five individuals and over 30 searches, originating from a case linked to football agent José Veiga, who was suspected of international trade corruption, money laundering, tax fraud, and influence peddling.
