Murça tribunal has decided that former mayor of Montalegre, Orlando Alves – accused of favoring family members and friends in public works contracts – can be freed from the ‘house arrest’ he has been under, in Viseu (staying with relatives) since his arrest 16 months ago, but he still cannot go home. Part of his bail restrictions continue to be that he must stay away from his former hometown. Mr Alves faces around 400 crimes, among them criminal association, prevarication, economic participation in business and money laundering, and has said he is “unhappy”. “The court considers that I am a perturbing element to social harmony in the town and territory,” he laments. Mr Alves’ assets have also been frozen, explain reports.
