The Dean of Oporto's Fernando Pessoa University has been on trial for allegedly diverting €3 million from the privately owned institution. The hearing was held behind closed doors as he is so very important that his good name be besmirched, should the public get to hear or read the evidence against him.Apparently, a private trial has been agreed so as not to call into question his good name or cause "irreparable damage to the university and its students.”
This wafer thin argument was presented by the defence team employed by Dean Salvato Trigo and no facts relating to the case can be reported by the media for at least a month.
Judge Guilhermino Freitas accepted the request, ruling that only those directly involved in the trial can be admitted to court.
This arrangement also was fine with the Public Prosecution Service which raised no objection and even more fine with the Fernando Pessoa Teaching and Culture Foundation, which is the owner of the University and which is under the control of Salvato Trigo and his family.
The Dean’s lawyers claimed that their client is "a personality of recognised merit and prestige in the national and international university environment" and that, therefore, the accusation levelled against him is "detrimental to his professional and personal honour as well as his good name."
In the allegations that he diverted €3 million, the Dean’s defence lawyer made the tenuous link that, "the facts submitted to court may have obvious media repercussions, which will necessarily have a detrimental effect on the normal functioning of the Fernando Pessoa University and the school hospital."
The lawyer claimed that this case deserved exceptional treatment and should be carried out behind closed doors, "given the severity of the damage that publicity may cause," in particular to the students of the Fernando Pessoa University, allegedly.
The judge agreed and decided to exclude the press and members of the public but failed to submit any documentation to justify this action, as would be the norm.
Público journalists wanted to cover the case, in the public interest, but were not allowed due to the special treatment afforded this paragon of the higher education sector.
"The judge authorised the consultation of the file, but only allowed after the deadline of one month has passed in case the parties appealed any decision," says the newspaper. The Dean’s lawyer filed an appeal, thus preventing journalists getting hold of the file for at least a month but indicating that the Dean's defence was not altogether successful.
We will find out what happened at the trial ‘behind closed doors,’ but not until later in March.
In addition to allegedly ‘diverting €3 million, Salvato Trigo is suspected of a €1.4 million tax fraud, along with his wife and daughter.
By pushing to have his hearing behind closed doors, Salvato Trigo inadvertently has attracted maximum publicity.
Here's a picture of Salvato Trigo:
UPDATE: for the trial result and sentence, see: 'Prestigious' Rector gets suspended sentence for €2 million fiddle'
