Testimonies from deceased people, recordings that cannot be used, prescriptions and victims: the BES trial starts this Tuesday
The investigation began in 2014, but the facts date back, so today, when we talk about the collapse of the Espírito Santo Group, we also talk about statutes of limitations. There have already been crimes declared extinct, but there are still hundreds of criminal practices on which the Lisbon District Court will rule at the end of the trial that begins this Tuesday, October 15th.
Ricardo Salgado is the main face at the head of the 18 accused (they started as 25, but there have already been deaths, such as that of his cousin, José Manuel Espírito Santo, companies freeing themselves from the accusation and court decisions referring to two names in the same sense). The former banker tried to avoid the trial due to his health situation, but the court refused to dismiss the case and forced him to attend the first session unless he presented a medical certificate.
Helena Susano is the judge who will lead the trial, of which there will be no photographs or videos, only the reports of journalists, most of whom are placed in special rooms at the Justice Campus, in Parque das Nações.
