Appeals Court Stresses Flight Risk of Former Funchal Mayor Pedro Calado and Businessman Avelino Farinha
In a new turn of events in the case of widespread alleged corruption in Madeira, the Lisbon Court of Appeal has imposed stricter restrictions on former Funchal mayor Pedro Calado and businessman Avelino Farinha, requiring them to surrender their passports and banning them from traveling outside the Schengen area. The court justified this decision by citing the defendants' connections to Angola and Dubai, as well as their access to significant financial resources.
We have never done anything illegal
Pedro Calado, 2024
Investigation into Corruption and Money Laundering
The case stems from a large-scale mega operation carried out in January 2024, investigating alleged corruption, money laundering, and misconduct. The operation led to the detention of the former Funchal mayor Pedro Calado, Avelino Farinha (AfA Group), and Custódio Correia, a key shareholder in Socicorreia, a major construction group. Authorities initially sought preventive detention for all three suspects, but a judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to justify such a measure, leading to their release after 21 days in custody.
Court Reverses Previous Ruling
A previous decision by Judge Jorge Bernardes de Melo had found no clear evidence of wrongdoing or illicit agreements between Pedro Calado and the involved businessmen. However, the Appeals Court has now determined that there are strong indications of corruption and misconduct. The ruling represents a partial victory for the Public Prosecutor's Office, which had maintained that the suspects' actions warranted stricter legal measures.
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Legal Developments and Ongoing Investigations
While the court has tightened restrictions on Calado and Farinha, Custódio Correia will remain under the initial terms of identity verification and residence reporting. The case continues to unfold as authorities further investigate potential illicit agreements, particularly regarding public contracts and financial transactions involving Madeira's construction sector.
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