Estela Silva / Lusa
“Operation Praetorian” involving elements of the Super Dragões fan base was ready for trial, but due to a transcription error, the process took a step back.
After completing the investigation phase, “” had already been sent to the São João Novo Forum for the start of the trial. But now, he returns to the Criminal Investigation Court (TIC) of Porto due to a error in transcription of a message from defendant José Pereira.
At issue is a “me” in the wrong placeas found out by .
The message was sent by José Pereira to his girlfriend, via WhatsApp, and spoke of another defendant in the case, Hugo Carneiro, better known as ,
Referring to the bracelets to enter the controversial General Assembly (AG) of FC Porto on November 13, 2023, José Pereira reportedly told his girlfriend that “It was the Pole who arranged it”.
But in the process, the message was transcribed with an extra “me”, that is, “It was the Pole who found me”as transcribed by Público.
This “me” created a direct link between José Pereira and “Polaco”, former leader of the Superdragões fans.
Pinto da Costa was not interviewed for health reasons
However, he should have been heard as part of the process, this Friday, for “future memory”, at the request of the defense of one of the defendants in the case, Fernando Saulo.
But the testimony was postponed due to health problems of the former president of FC Porto.
Pinto da Costa was, in September 2021.
The hearing with the former sports director was postponed without a new date, due to his “disabling state” of healthas noted in the Porto TIC order to which Lusa had access.
The session will be rescheduled “as soon as the witness has a medical recommendation or authorization to do so”, points out the same order.
There are 12 defendants in “Operation Praetorian”, including , former leader of the Superdragons, and .
At issue are crimes of offenses against physical integrity, aggravated coercion and attack on freedom of information.
The Public Ministry accuses the defendants linked to the Super Dragões fans of “creating a climate of intimidation and fear” at the FC Porto AG to approve a statutory review that was “in the interest of the management” of the club, then chaired by Pinto da Costa.
