The judicial holidays ended on August 31, marking the return of several media cases to the Portuguese justice stage. Among the cases resuming activity are Operation Marquês, the BESA case, Operation Vórtex, Operation Teia, Tempestade Perfeita, and Operation Lex. Some cases remain on standby, such as Operation Influencer, the BES case, the PPP case, and Operation Picoas.
In Operation Marquês, former Prime Minister José Sócrates, 67 years old, will be heard again on September 10, following a motion filed on June 23 in which he expressed his intention to make statements. Sócrates is indicted on 22 crimes, including three of corruption, for allegedly receiving money through front men to benefit the Lena group, the Espírito Santo Group, and the Vale do Lobo development. The case has 21 defendants facing 117 economic-financial crimes, with the Public Prosecutor's Office claiming approximately 58 million euros.
In the BESA case, former BES president Ricardo Salgado and BESA president Álvaro Sobrinho return to court this Tuesday. Sobrinho is charged with 18 crimes of aggravated embezzlement and five of money laundering, while Salgado faces five crimes of embezzlement and one of qualified fraud. On September 4, the reading of the Operation Vórtex verdict is scheduled, involving former Espinho City Council presidents Miguel Reis and Pinto Moreira, suspected of active and passive corruption, prevarication, and influence peddling in real estate projects.
On September 15, the Operation Teia trial begins, with former mayors of Barcelos Miguel Costa Gomes and Santo Tirso Joaquim Couto being tried for corruption and prevarication. The Public Prosecutor's Office states that the defendants misappropriated 591,121.34 euros. The Tempestade Perfeita trial, related to suspected corruption in Defense sector construction projects, continues with new sessions scheduled, with 73 defendants confirmed. Operation Lex, involving former Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira and former judge Rui Rangel, also continues without sessions yet scheduled.
