Pedro Calado, Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia will spend another night in the PJ cells in Lisbon.
The criminal investigation judge, Jorge Bernardes de Melo, rejected the defense’s joint request for the release of the three defendants detained in the alleged corruption case in Madeira.
Pedro Calado, Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia will remain in the Judiciary Police cells until the appropriate measures are applied.
Speaking outside the Central Court of Criminal Instruction, lawyer André Navarro de Noronha, representative of the CEO of Socicorreia, explained that “in the understanding of the honorable judge there was no legal basis” for the release, a position contrary to that of the defense which believes that ” there was a basis.”
The lawyer also pointed out that the Public Prosecutor’s Office opposed the release as such a decision would call into question “the legality of the detention” of the indictment.
After 16 days of detention for interrogation and application of coercive measures, the lawyers of Pedro Calado, Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia once again join forces to demand the release of the defendants detained on suspicion of malfeasance, undue receipt of an advantage, passive corruption , active corruption, economic participation in business, abuse of powers and influence peddling.
The lawyer for the former mayor of Funchal, Paulo de Sá e Cunha, pointed out that the objective of the defense “is always to maintain people’s freedom, especially when detention is not justified”, stating that, in this specific case, there was no need.