The defendants, aged between 20 and 59 and residing in the Margem Sul do Tejo area, are charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of possession of a prohibited weapon. One of them also faces two charges of driving without a legal license.
In today’s hearing, a PSP officer reported that the investigation began with the analysis of surveillance footage, which allowed the identification of the vehicle (a car rented at Lisbon airport) and the suspects.
From there, several measures were taken that enabled the identification of the suspects and tracking of their movements, including multiple trips to Fátima, where they were seen near jewelry stores without any disguises.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) accusation document, the defendants, two of whom are brothers, decided to appropriate goods displayed in jewelry stores using firearms and physical force as intimidation.
The first robbery took place on August 28, 2024, at a jewelry store in Fátima, where two of the suspects, dressed in dark clothing, hats, balaclavas, and gloves, entered armed with a revolver and a hammer, while the third waited outside. They pointed the weapon at two employees and took valuable items and cash from the register.
The second robbery occurred on the morning of September 18 at another jewelry store in the city, where the owners and a third person were present. One of the defendants pointed a weapon at the owner, while another pushed the third person, causing them to hit their head on a display pillar. The third individual smashed a showcase and a cabinet with a hammer, and the suspects took dozens of items, valued at approximately 16,500 euros.
The officer testifying in court also described the pursuit following the second robbery, when the three suspects headed towards Lisbon.
The operation involved several teams from the PSP and the Judiciary Police, who set up a blockade on the Ponte 25 de Abril. According to testimony, one of the individuals attempted to throw a bag containing evidence, including a revolver, ammunition, gloves, and gold and silver items, into the Tejo River, but the bag got caught on the bridge’s grille.
The officer further stated that the authorities’ approach on the bridge was planned to ensure “civilian safety,” despite damage caused by vehicle collisions.
The three suspects were arrested at the scene after attempting to flee on foot and trying to open doors of other vehicles.
Inside the vehicle, more stolen items and a hammer used in the robberies were found.
The Public Prosecutor requests that approximately 40,000 euros, allegedly obtained from the crimes, be forfeited to the state.
In statements to Lusa, the defense attorney for one of the defendants expressed that, in his view, “not all the circumstances resulting from the accusation were proven,” highlighting that the evidence presented during the hearing does not fully confirm the facts imputed by the Public Prosecutor.
During the hearing, several witnesses were heard, including employees and the jewelry store owners, who confirmed some of the facts described in the MP’s decree.
Of the three defendants present, two chose not to testify before the panel of judges. The fourth defendant, related to the car rental used in the robberies, did not appear and was fined.
The final arguments are scheduled for the 15th at 09:30.
