Former Chega leader goes on trial for child prostitution crimes

Nuno Pardal Ribeiro will be judged in the exact terms of the accusation: “he knew that the young man was 15 years old” and “he always acted freely, voluntarily and consciously”. The case has another defendant, aged 76.

The former leader of Chega, Nuno Pardal Ribeirowill be tried for two crimes of resorting to prostitution of minors, one attempted and the other completed, decided the Cascais Court of Instruction.

Nuno Pardal Ribeiro had requested the opening of an investigation and the court competent to assess whether there are sufficient facts to proceed to the trial phase decided to pronounce the former deputy of the Lisbon district of Chega in the exact terms of the accusation — will be tried for the same crimes with which he is accused by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The news was released this Thursday by the newspaper and, according to the indictment to which Lusa had access, the Public Ministry intends that Nuno Pardal Ribeiro will also be banned from carrying out public or private functions that involve contact with minors.

Pardal “knew that the young man was 15 years old”

In 2023, Nuno Pardal Ribeiro will have met a 15 year old young man through an application designed for dating, having arranged to meet the minor who is now an assistant in the process.

For the Public Ministry, “the defendant knew that the assistant was 15 years old” and, even so, he performed sexual acts in exchange for money. According to the prosecution, Nuno Pardal Ribeiro, having arranged a second meeting that did not happen.

“The defendant always acted freely, voluntarily and consciouslyknowing well that his conduct was prohibited and punished by law”, reads the indictment.

In addition to Nuno Pardal Ribeiro, this process has another defendant, aged 76accused of a crime of resorting to prostitution of minors.

After the accusation by the Public Ministry, in February this year, Nuno Pardal Ribeiro submitted his resignation as vice-presidency of the party’s Lisbon district, after resigning from his mandate as municipal deputy.

Chega leader André Ventura confessed in the same month that if he is convicted of child abuse, Nuno Pardal.