The beginning of the trial regarding submarines purchased by Portugal from German firm Man Ferrostaal, has been set by Lisbon’s criminal courts for 17 September, a courts source told Lusa News Agency.
The defendants stand accused of fraud and forgery.
Portugal bought two submarines from German consortium GSC (part of Man Ferrostaal) in 2004, when José Durão Barroso was prime minister and current foreign minister, Paulo Portas, was minister of defence.
Part of the deal included provisions saying the German firm would have to purchase goods and services from Portuguese companies worth a bit more than the price of the submarines.
Many of these deals are allegedly either completely false or had been agreed prior to, or outside, the agreement.
The case has been particularly slow due to many unanswered letters between the Portuguese procurator’s office and the German authorities.
Lisbon criminal court believes “once the facts have been proven, the defendants will be found guilty”
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