PSD deputy Pinto Moreira was prohibited this Friday from contacting defendants, witnesses and employees of the Chamber of Espinho, one of the coercive measures requested by the Prosecutor’s Office as part of Operation Vortex.
The former mayor of Espinho was heard this Friday at the Court of Criminal Instruction (TIC) of Porto, following the request of the prosecution defending the obligation to provide a guarantee of 200 thousand euros and the ban on contacts with other defendants, witnesses, mayors and municipal officials, a request that was only partially validated by the investigating judge.
After analyzing the evidence gathered during the trial, that court ruled that the defendant is subject to the identity and residence periods already mentioned in the file and, cumulatively, to the obligation not to contact directly or through an intermediary with the other defendants and witnesses to the trial.
It is also forbidden to have contact with all those who hold political positions in the municipality of Espinho and/or with employees of that municipality.
In a press release, the court points to the three arguments that led to the decision on this coercive measure against the defendant Pinto Moreira who, starting by underlining, “is seriously charged with committing crimes of aggravated passive corruption, influencing and violation of rules” . urban planner per employee”.
This decision has contributed to the fact that these are crimes punishable by imprisonment and that, in the opinion of the investigating judge, the dangers of disruption of the proceedings and in particular the danger to the preservation or veracity of evidence and continuity of criminal activity or “serious” disturbance of public order and peace.
Finally, ongoing efforts regarding possible illegal property gains obtained as a result of the alleged commission of the crimes of which he is accused were also evaluated.
In March, Joaquim Pinto Moreira, who was mayor of Espinho between 2009 and 2021, was charged with corruption in that municipality in this trial, after being heard by Porto’s Department of Investigation and Regional Penal Action (DIAP) .
At the time, the former mayor was subject to the least burdensome coercive measure, the Identity and Residence Period.
Under the Vortex trial, Pinto Moreira is charged with two crimes of passive corruption, one of influence and the other of violation of urban rules, the latter in co-authorship.
The indictment, consulted by Lusa, alleges that Deputy Pinto Moreira has committed itself to promoting the interests of the Pessegueiro group, by enabling “quick and favorable decisions” from the outset of “Urban 32” in the urban processes associated with the municipality are presented.
According to the investigation, businessman Francisco Pessegueiro, co-defendant in the trial, on November 27, 2020, after selling the property for which “Urban 32” was designed, handed over 50 thousand euros to the Social Democrat in a cafe. in Vila New of Gaia.
The MP says that even after leaving the municipality, Pinto Moreira continued to exert influence with the then head of the municipal work department, also accused in the trial, so that the above procedures had the desired purpose, in the sense of receiving the agreed remuneration . .
In the same trial, Miguel Reis (PS), who resigned as mayor of Espinho after this investigation and who is under house arrest, is also charged with four crimes of passive corruption and five of subterfuge.
Entrepreneurs João Rodrigues, Francisco Pessegueiro and Paulo Malafaia were charged (in co-authorship) with eight crimes of active corruption, one of influence, five of subterfuge and two of violation of urban rules.
Three other defendants and five companies were also charged with various economic and financial crimes.
Operation Vortex involves several urban planning processes approved by the Espinho Chamber that have passed between the mandates of Joaquim Pinto Moreira and Miguel Reis.
Source: DN
