Court Upholds Sentences in EDP Case
The Lisbon Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions of Manuel Pinho, his wife, and former banker Ricardo Salgado in the notorious EDP case. Pinho, the former Minister of Economy, remains sentenced to 10 years in prison, allowing him the possibility to appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice. In contrast, Salgado's sentence of six years and three months cannot be appealed due to legal limitations.
Legal Implications
Under current law, only sentences exceeding eight years can be reviewed by the Supreme Court. This ruling confirms that Pinho was indeed corrupted by Salgado, marking a significant legal precedent. Despite his conviction, it remains uncertain if Salgado will serve his sentence in prison, as his deteriorating health might allow him to serve it at home or in a facility.
Current Status of Sentences
As a result of this recent judicial decision, Manuel Pinho will continue to serve his time under house arrest. He has already spent three years and four months under electronic monitoring, which could extend to five years—half of his original sentence. The court found that Pinho received approximately €4.9 million from Espírito Santo Enterprises, which he concealed in offshore accounts with his wife’s knowledge while in office. These funds were used to benefit various economic projects.
Corruption and Projects
Pinho, who resigned following a controversial parliamentary incident, facilitated the approval of several tourism and real estate projects linked to Salgado's group. These include notable developments like Herdade da Comporta and Tivoli Vilamoura. He received €500,000 through an offshore entity in Panama, along with a monthly salary of €15,000 from 2005 to 2012, which he claimed were for productivity bonuses and salaries related to his role at BES Africa.
Additional Controversies
Post-resignation, Pinho led Portugal's bid for the Ryder Cup, which was held eight years later at Herdade da Comporta. He allegedly expedited a request from Águas do Vimeiro, a company managed by Salgado's brother, to expand its concession area. Furthermore, he reversed a decision by the Competition Authority to allow Brisa to acquire the concession for the Autoestradas do Atlântico, despite existing concentrations of ownership.
The investigation also revealed that part of the benefits received by the couple included the hiring of Pinho's wife, Alexandra Pinho, as curator of the BESart Collection, leading to her receiving a four-year suspended sentence. The charges include corruption, tax fraud, and money laundering.
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