The judge refused to declare the statute of limitations on the corruption and money laundering crimes related to the Vale do Lobo case. The defenses of Vara, Rui Horta e Costa, and Diogo Gaspar Ferreira had requested that the crimes be considered time-barred.
The lawyers for the three defendants wanted the court to recognize the extinction of criminal proceedings due to the statute of limitations. The charges involve corruption and money laundering allegedly committed in the context of the Vale do Lobo project.
The magistrate rejected the defense request, arguing that accepting the statute of limitations would create "procedural fragmentation" in the case. This decision keeps the crimes under consideration in court.
The case thus continues to progress without the corruption and money laundering crimes having been declared time-barred, which means the three defendants remain subject to trial.
