The crime of embezzlement has a criminal framework of three to ten years in prison and a fine of up to 150 days. In this case, the court, considering the fact that Dinis Costa had no criminal record and that, “despite being a prolonged act, it did not cause any relevant damage to the Municipality”, sentenced the former mayor to four years and five months in prison and the payment of a 60-day fine, at the rate of six euros per day.
Dinis Costa is also subject to paying 10,348.53 euros, to compensate the City Council for the loss and the settlement of 150 thousand euros, in favor of the State, relating to assets considered incongruous with the former mayor’s income over the last five years, prior to the facts. The court makes the suspension of the sentence dependent on the payment of these two amounts.
Dinis Costa is not prevented from running for other public positions, however, the judge leaves him with a warning: “if he finds himself in this situation again, he will have to consider what appears to be the public interest”.
What happened at the Guimarães Court is part of “a witch hunt that has been killing me and my family for 15 years”, says the former mayor, blaming Freemasonry for persecution. “They are judging me for ten thousand euros, the current executive has already spent more than 400 thousand euros on lunches”, he accuses.
The former mayor states that he found “millions for the Chamber of Vizela” and protests, “I was working, I wasn’t going to pay”. “Now they come to ask me who I ate with and where I ate in 2009”, complains Dinis Costa, mentioning the slowness of the process. Referring to the amounts he was ordered to pay, Dinis Costa assured: “I won’t pay, I have nothing”. Armandino Lopes, lawyer for the former president of the Chamber, assures that he will appeal this ruling.
Tags: mayor Vizela convicted embezzlement
