In the eleventh session of this trial, Diogo Gaspar Ferreira, one of the 21 defendants in the case, facing charges of money laundering and active corruption of a political office holder, discussed credit at Caixa Geral de Depósitos regarding the financing made in 2006.
“I never felt any political influence,” Diogo Gaspar Ferreira stated before the panel led by judge Susana Seca, who questioned the former executive director about whether there was any pressure from António Vara or if he suggested speaking with José Sócrates.
The issue pertained to the funding from Caixa Geral de Depósitos for Vale do Lobo, for which Vale do Lobo promoter Rui Horta e Costa met with the CGD administration, including Armando Vara.
At that time, Diogo Gaspar Ferreira recounted, Armando Vara proposed forming a company since the Vale do Lobo project “was interesting,” but the capital was insufficient.
In this session, the first in which former Prime Minister José Sócrates was absent, prosecutor Rosário Teixeira, who led the investigation resulting in this case, was present.
From the Public Prosecutor’s team, prosecutors Rosário Teixeira, Rui Real, and Nadine Xarope attended today, while prosecutor Rómulo Mateus was absent.
Former Prime Minister José Sócrates is one of the 21 defendants in Operation Marquês and faces charges mainly of corruption and money laundering. He was absent today after requesting exemption from the court on Wednesday and announcing that he will travel to Brazil for academic reasons.
The 21 defendants have generally denied the 117 economic-financial crimes broadly attributed to them.
The trial began on July 3 at the Lisbon Central Criminal Court.
