An Inspector in Portugal’s Judicial Police has been sentenced to five years in prison for warning a gang about police activity as it ran a gold bullion tax fraud scheme.
João de Sousa was suspected of involvement in the illicit sale of gold and has been in custody in Évora prison since 2014.
The court in Seixal today sentenced de Sousa for the crime of corruption, bribery and abusing his position and "for involvement in a network that was dedicated to the sale of gold while evading payment to the tax authorities."
The inspector was passing on confidential information to inform the gang of police activities and was receiving money in return.
The case involved 33 other defendants, including four companies in the gold business accused of conspiracy and tax evasion of €6.6 million.
Eight of the defendants decided to form a group for the large-scale acquisition of gold objects through 'gold shops.' The items later were melted down and transformed into gold bars for sale in Belgium.
The prosecution claimed that the group acquired gold through these stores and various suppliers scattered around the Greater Lisbon and Alentejo areas but failed to make tax returns and submit mandatory trading reports.
The gang sold over 1,600 kilograms of gold bars in Belgium, representing over €61.9 million on which a 10% tax should have been paid.
Paulo Martinho, a former president of the Association of Southern Merchants, Jewellers and Watchmakers, received the heaviest penalty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering, tax fraud, bribery and falsification of documents. His wife, Maria Celeste Rodrigues, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Florbela Gaspar was sentenced to seven years in prison for money laundering, aggravated tax fraud, bribery and forgery.
Rui Faria was sentenced to five years in prison for the crimes of money laundering and tax fraud and was acquitted of conspiracy to murder, a charge that the court dropped for more than 30 defendants in the case.
Three other defendants in the case were suspended and the rest were acquitted.
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