At the outset of the final arguments, the prosecutor emphasized that the facts attributed to the defendants were largely proven during the trial, which is ongoing at the Espinho Court in the Aveiro district.
The prosecutor stated that businessman Francisco Pessegueiro “admitted the truth of the facts,” noting that overall, his statements “are credible because they are consistent with experience and supported by evidence given during the hearing.”
The prosecutor also mentioned that former mayors Miguel Reis and Pinto Moreira were corrupted, suggesting that there was a pact among Pessegueiro, João Rodrigues, and Paulo Malafaia, co-defendants in the case, who benefited from their relationships with the local officials.
The only point not proven, according to the prosecutor, was that Miguel Reis received 50,000 euros from Francisco Pessegueiro, as stated in the accusation. It was noted that the politician requested the money but did not receive it by mere chance, as admitted by the businessman during the trial.
However, it was considered proven in court that the former official received financial incentives and furniture for his home in exchange for official acts.
Regarding Pinto Moreira, it was stated that he requested 50,000 euros for the “political maneuvers” in two urban projects, an amount that Pessegueiro agreed to pay.
The Vórtex trial began at the Espinho Court on September 5, 2024.
The case involves corruption related to real estate projects and urban licensing in the Espinho Council, in the Aveiro district, involving two former mayors of that municipality, Miguel Reis (PS) and Pinto Moreira (PSD).
The operation concluded on January 10, 2023, with the arrest of the then mayor of Espinho, Miguel Reis, the head of the Urbanism and Environment Division of that municipality, an architect, and two businessmen on suspicion of corruption, malfeasance, abuse of power, and influence peddling.
On July 10 of the same year, the Public Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against eight defendants and five companies. In addition to Miguel Reis, who resigned as mayor of Espinho following this investigation, his predecessor, Pinto Moreira, was also charged.
On November 24, 2023, Porto’s Criminal Instruction Court decided to bring all the defendants to trial, largely in the exact terms of the accusation, only reducing the number of charges against one of the companies.
Miguel Reis is charged with four counts of passive corruption and five of malfeasance, while Pinto Moreira faces two charges of passive corruption, one of influence peddling, and another of violating urban planning rules.
Businessman Francisco Pessegueiro is charged with eight counts of active corruption, one of influence peddling, five of malfeasance, and two of violating urban planning rules.
Miguel Reis and Francisco Pessegueiro were placed under preventive detention but have since been released.
