As revelations come thick and fast, Público newspaper is reporting that top-level bankers who moved from BES to Novo Banco when the former institution collapsed have now been named as defendants in the ongoing investigations into crimes of corruption, money-laundering and other sharp practices.
Following the mega-police swoop on 41 homes and offices in Lisbon yesterday (see https://www.portugalresident.com/%E2%80%9Csuper-judge%E2%80%9D-leads-new-raids-on-34-homes-of-bes-executives) Público reports that almost five million documents were apprehended by the authorities, some of them even pointed to new avenues for investigation.
“Beyond indications of a scam organised to hide around a billion euros worth of debt… there are also suspicions of a “blue bag” (ES Enterprise) which had been used in the past few years to move around €300 million worth of payments not documented within the Espírito Santo Group and destined for third parties,” writes Público.
In the aftermath of yesterday’s search operations, newspapers appear to be trying to outdo each other over what they can reveal as the famous Portuguese Secrecy of Justice rule lies in tatters.
NOVO BANCO directors named as new defendants in BES scandal
