'Tutti Frutti' case: judge sends 56 PSD defendants to trial for corruption in Lisbon
Judge Cláudia Pina committed 56 of 60 defendants in the 'Tutti Frutti' process, which involves corruption in Lisbon parish councils. Ângelo Pereira, president of the PSD's Lisbon district branch, was not included.
Judge commits 56 defendants in 'Tutti Frutti' process, linked to corruption in Lisbon parish councils
Investigating judge Cláudia Pina decided on Monday to send 56 of 60 defendants in the 'Tutti Frutti' process to trial, as reported by Correio da Manhã. The case involves suspected corruption, trading in influence, and other crimes allegedly committed in several parish councils in Lisbon.
Among those committed for trial are former PSD deputies Sérgio Azevedo and Carlos Eduardo Reis, as well as former local officials Luís Newton and Vasco Morgado.
Three defendants removed from trial, one deceased
Four defendants will not go to trial. Inês Drumond, former president of the Benfica Parish Council, Ivone Gonçalves, former PSD councillor in Loures, and Ângelo Pereira, president of the PSD's Lisbon district branch, had the suspicions against them archived. A fourth defendant has since died.
Ângelo Pereira had been accused of improper receipt of benefit, specifically a trip to China. The judge concluded that the existence of any personal benefit associated with the offer had not been proven.
Network of influence and irregular contracts at centre of charges
On trial will be several contracts concluded between parish councils led by the PSD and private companies, as well as the hiring of advisers for Lisbon's municipal assembly.
According to the public prosecutor's charges, Carlos Eduardo Reis and Sérgio Azevedo led a network of influence in the capital's parishes. This network allegedly generated business for Reis's company, Ambigold, and commissions for Azevedo, paid from the salaries of advisers appointed by them.
Luís Newton is accused of carrying out several direct awards in the Estrela Parish Council outside the law. The same is alleged against Vasco Morgado, former president of the Santo António Parish Council, who was appointed in 2025 to Lisbon's municipal company responsible for managing the city's cultural facilities.
Source: Correio da Manhã