A BOLA – Lawyer reveals that FC Porto had access to a mega-process in which Benfica is accused (FC Porto)

The lawyer of Francisco J. Marques, director of communication at FC Porto, in the emails process, Nuno Brandão revealed, in the last session dedicated to allegations, that the dragons became assistants and consulted the mega-process, still in secrecy of justice, which involves investigation of crimes of corruption and in which the SAD of Benfica, former and current leaders, such as Luís Filipe Vieira, Rui Costa, Domingos Soares de Oliveira and Nuno Gaioso, were constituted defendants.

Contacted by A BOLA, the chairman of the Board of the General Assembly of Benfica, the lawyer Fernando Seara, declined to comment. Lawyers João Diogo Manteigas and João Caiado Guerreiro, however, analyzed Nuno Brandão’s statements in court.

João Diogo Manteigas and João Caiado Guerreiro explain that it is possible for FC Porto to have consulted the process, still under investigation and in secrecy of justice, as an assistant, provided that authorized by a judge. They already consider it more strange that the dragons did it after Benfica’s consultation requests were rejected.

«I find it strange that the assistant is authorized to consult a case in which the defendant is not. Now, anything can happen, it can be a matter of timings or timing of the notifications themselves. It happens», shares João Caiado Guerreiro.

João Diogo Manteigas goes further: «As a rule, access to a process in secrecy of justice is not allowed. I find it strange that the defendant’s lawyers do not have access and the assistant’s lawyers do, not least because defendants have more rights. If FC Porto’s lawyers consulted the process, they are obliged to secrecy of justice. But they could also be bluffing for the moment [nas alegações do processo dos emails] so have provided. On the other hand, the lawyers who accompanied the constitution of defendants may, in fact, still not have had access to the process because it is in secrecy of justice or they may have already had access and chose not to provide more information because it is a sensitive matter that can cause harm. interpretation of ordinary citizens. If FC Porto lawyers had access, they cannot share. Or else they are bluffing, in a strategy to put pressure on. Benfica’s lawyers will have shown admiration for this revelation, which gives some naturalness in the reaction and that they were not aware of the process.»

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