Former Minister of Education António Couto dos Santos
According to the order of the prosecutor who investigated the case, there was no evidence that the death of the former minister, at the City Golfe de Matosinhos, was due to criminal intervention. The former minister fell into a lake after slipping on a tarpaulin while trying to catch a ball.
The investigation process into the death of António Couto dos Santos was archived by the Public Ministry of Matosinhos, reveals this Saturday.
Although the autopsy report indicates that the house of death was undeterminedmedical expertise “does not exclude the possibility that it may have occurred due to drowningafter slipping into the lake, when going to fetch a ball”, according to what can be read in the archiving order issued by the prosecutor João Paulo Trindadecited by CM.
The former Minister of Education went on January 6, after falling into a lake at Citygolf, in Matosinhos. At the time, a change in his routine, new medication for his diabetes and a blow to the forehead left the former ruler dead.
On that date, the 75-year-old former minister was play golf alone and on footsomething that had never happened. In one of the holes, he disappeared and was only seen later, already in the lake and lifeless.
At the time, autopsy raised doubtshaving , and left all hypotheses open, leaning towards a possible natural death — but without definitive conclusions. The case was then sent to the Public Ministry, which opened an investigation.
According to the archiving order, “it turns out that death could be due to a accident, and no evidence was collected that this had third-party criminal interventionso the facts have no legal-criminal relevance”.
“It was not possible to determine the existence of sufficient evidence to verify a crime”, concludes the prosecutor. The examinations carried out on the body “did not present any injuries traumatic (indoor or outdoor) nor the presence of toxicological traces“that could indicate the possibility that we are facing a case of criminal offence”, details the magistrate.
The prosecutor also highlights that moments before being found, Couto dos Santos had been seen near the lake, apparently well, and that none of his belongings were missing. In the golf cart were his car keys, his wallet with money and ATM cards, as well as his cell phone, glasses and a watch.
In addition, there was a yellow ball at the edge of the lake, usually used for warming up, and there were slip marks on a slippery tarpaulin. “This indicates that the deceased had moved to the edge of the lake to go look for ball who ended up there and who, by misfortune, will have slipped on the canvas e fallen into the lakedying in the process”, concludes the order.
Born in Forjães, Esposende, and a Chemical Engineer by training, Couto dos Santos was Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister and Youth (1987-1991), Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (1991-1992) and Education (1992-1993). He was also a deputy to the Assembly of the Republic for the district of Setúbal between 1987 and 1995; and by Aveiro between 2009 and 2015.
O “minister of difficult portfolios” by Cavaco Silva was especially known for episodes such as confrontation with the “rasca generation” during student protests against the increase in tuition fees, a notable episode of his term.
Until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was honorary consul of Russia in Portohaving submitted his refusal from that position in February 2022, and was an intermediary in business with China, demonstrating a vast network of international contacts.
Outside of politics, Couto dos Santos was president of the Board of Directors of House of Musicin Porto, having been responsible for completing the works and opening the concert hall to the public, on April 15, 2005, and vice-president of Sporting Clube de Portugal, between 1999 and 2002.
He was also linked to Portuguese Business Association (formerly called Associação Industrial Portuense) for 13 years, where he held management positions in several group companies (Exponor, Europarque, Eurisko, Parque-Invest and AEP).
Passed through Student Association Movementbetween 1975 and 1983, having been a member of the Student Association of the Instituto Superior Técnico and the Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa.
