The incredible "imbroglio" of the Freeport Corruption Case

Candida Almeida,

José Socrates'

personal defensive shield.

Candida Almeida, director of the DCIAP - Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action - in Lisbon, has made it her personal quest to defend Mr José Socrates from any kind of prosecution, in the Freeport Corruption Case.

When she found out that the JP (Judicial Police) planned to form a mixed team of Portuguese and British investigators, to investigate claims of corruption of the current Portuguese prime Minister, she immediately nominated herself as the head of the Freeport investigation, later going to the Hague, where at the Eurojust Offices, met the English team members of the investigation, from the Serious Fraud Office. Unfortunately, according to reports, she didn't have a clue of the data already in the hands of the investigators, both portuguese and British.

She has consistently maintained that there wasn't enough data to prosecute Mr. José Socrates, who was the Environment Minister, at the time when the Freeport Project was approved, to be built in a highly sensitive protected Nature area of the Tagus Estuary.

The normally complicated and lengthy process of approval of the project was finalised in only a few hours, and since then shrouded in many cloak and dagger situations where millions of euros have disappeared, allegedly paid out in bribery fees. Mr Socrates' uncle, Mr. Monteiro and his son, Hugo Monteiro, mysteriously received millions of euros in their bank accounts without declaring any of it for fiscal reasons.

Candida Almeida did everything in her power to prevent magistrates, Victor Magalhães and Pães de Faria, from concluding the investigation, including 27 interrogative questions they wanted to ask Mr, Socrates, about his supposed involvement in the case.

Candida Almeida hastily wrapped up the investigation of the Freeport Corruption case and filed it as terminated a week ago!! Two men were accused of illicit business transactions, namely Mr. Charles Smith and Manuel Pedro.

José Socrates, made a truimphal declaration soon after the results were known, playing the "victim" of slander and injustice.