The Court of Évora Relationship (THREE) maintained the prison and substitution sentence and the fine to which the Beja District Court had sentenced the former technical director and a former president of the Social Solidarity Association “Os Amigos de Trigaches”, based in the village of Trigaches, county Beja, for the crime of tax fraud to Social Security.
The TRE also rejected the appeal from the Social Security Institute I.P., in which he alleged that he did not file a claim for compensation against the association in a timely manner, “in view of the omission of notification of the indictment order” by the Beja Public Prosecutor’s Office. The former president did not appeal the sentence imposed on her.
According to Social Security calculations, the difference between the services provided to users with this right generated an undue payment of 96.841,89 (ninety-six thousand eight hundred and forty-one euros and eighty-nine cents).
In 18 October 2022, the Local Criminal Court sentenced S.N., of 44 year old, who held the position of technical director between 1 October 2008 and 28 February 2016, a prison sentence of 1 year and 9 months, suspended by 2 years and 6 months, under the defendant's condition for the amount of 6.100 euros to Social Security.
Turn, M.R.M., of 66 year old, who was president of the institution between 2011 and 2014, and who will have continued to write checks even after leaving office, was sentenced to 200 fine days, at the rate of 7 euros / day, total no 1.400 euros.
As for the Social Solidarity Association “Os Amigos de Trigaches” which was also accused of tax fraud, this had canceled the registration of existence in 2018, two years before the indictment was issued, that occurred in 16 October 2020, therefore the criminal procedure was extinguished.
In the appeal dismissed by the TRE, last day 21 January, Sara Nozes' defense argued that “the main sentence should be reduced to a prison sentence of no more than one year and two months” and that the replacement sentence, suspended on condition of paying more than six thousand euros to Social Security “was not properly considered by the court, which should not have removed the application of the provision of work in favor of the community in lieu of the main penalty”, arguments that the Court Judges did not accept.
D.N., of 59 year old, who replaced M.R.N. as president of the association, a position he held between 2015 and 2018 e S.C., of 38 year old, vice president of the board led by the first, were acquitted of the crimes of tax fraud to Social Security, of which they were accused.
In the trial sessions, the three former directors of the Social Solidarity Association “Os Amigos de Trigaches” placed all responsibility on S.N., having one of the M.R.M., who was sentenced to a fine, explained that “I have nothing to do with what the technical director did. I only learned about things from the lawyer when she received the process. I had confidence in her”, concluded.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
