An Algarve mayor has been through the courts, come out with a suspended jail sentence and heavy fine, but still gets to stay in public office and pose smiling on the courtroom steps for newspapers.
José Amarelinho (pictured), Mayor of Aljezur, has been condemned twice for the crime of prevarication over licensing of works at the urbanisation of Vale da Telha. The same condemnation has been handed out to his predecessor, Manuel Marreiros – also twice.
Both men denied the charges – handed out by Lagos Tribunal in the summer of 2012.
Prison sentences of three years and two months for Amarelinho and four years and two months for Marreiros were suspended pending the payment of €5,000 each to environmental associations. The court also ruled that José Amarelinho should lose his job as Mayor – but both men appealed and the case dragged on.
Évora’s Tribunal de Relação ruled in May this year that the case should be heard again and meantime annulled the initial judgement, allowing Amarelinho to stand once again for mayor – and win in September’s municipal elections.
Last week, however, Lagos Tribunal returned a guilty verdict in the second trial – though this time the disgraced mayor is allowed to continue in public office, reported Correio da Manhã newspaper.
It is a decision that will leave many nonplussed but which brought smiles to the faces of both local politicians as they posed on the steps of Lagos Tribunal for the Correio da Manhã photographer.
Reporting on the court’s original decision, Sol online news service quoting Lusa said the fines would be paid to environmental associations LPN (League for the Protection of Nature) and Almargem.
