The Court of Appeal slams the “pure flight attitude” of the former Benfica president

The Court of Appeal of Lisbon (TRL) preserved João Valle e Azevedo’s declaration of protest, by rejecting the defense’s appeal and without ceasing to criticize the “attitude of pure flight” by the former president of Benfica.

According to Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling, which Llosa now had access to, Justices María José Cortés, Paula Novaes Penha and Carlos da Cunha Coutinho considered it “logical” to declare Valle e Azevedo restricted (due to the fact that she is not currently). to the court), where “every possible step” was taken to notify him and issue an Identity and Residency Document (TIR).

“The defendant has maintained an attitude of absolute evasion, which makes it difficult to implement his notification”, can be read in the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which adds: “What the appellant Joao Valle e Azevedo intends once again to prevent or at least to postpone her notification in accordance with the requirements required by law, By using all the means at its disposal, at the same time as it intends to prevent the adverse effects of a case of default.”

The judges also stated that the former Benfica president, who is currently living in London, was aware of all the efforts made to inform him by the Portuguese justice system and that the English authorities had also taken steps in this regard.

Therefore, they stressed that it is within Vale e Azevedo’s reach to end the “disruption in the practice of their lives and daily activity” imposed by default. According to the arrest warrant issued by the Judicial Court of the Lisbon Assembly, on September 23, what is at stake is the abolition of legal transactions of a heritage nature after this date, the prohibition of obtaining certificates and records from the authorities, and identity. Card, driving letter or passport.

“Could the defendant João Valle y Azevedo, at some time before the declaration of default, have taken steps to notify him and could now, at any time, put an end to this legal situation, by appearing in court. Simple and clear. (…) The procedural procedure The only useful and effective thing to be practiced at this time to avoid a case of default is to bring him to court, and they pleaded for an act which he did not seem to want to take and exercise.

The ruling flatly rejected the appeal arguments put forward by the defense of Vale e Azevedo, in charge of the lawyer Luísa Cruz, assuming that they had “no reason to exist”, as he argues that the case of default does not occur and continues at the same time in a situation that prevents notification in order to implement the ruling.

At stake is a lawsuit in which Vale e Azevedo responds to giving false guarantees of three million euros in legal proceedings and trying to circumvent BCP, also with false guarantees, to obtain a credit of 25 million euros.

For more than three years, since March 2019, the court has tried unsuccessfully to notify the former lawyer, who has been based in London, UK, since June 2018, to stand trial.

Valle Azevedo was notified on June 30, 2022 to appear in court and did not appear, with an arrest warrant now pending.