Ex-deputy mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia denies backhanders to ease property developments

 In Corruption, Justice, Local Government, Municipal councils, News

The former deputy mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia Town Council, Patrocínio Azevedo has denied that he received “a single red cent” from lawyer João Lopes to get real estate projects fast-tracked through the council’s planning department.

“I wouldn’t care if I was sentenced to 50 years in prison for any crime, except for having received money” he told judges at Gaia Court in the district of Porto.

Operation Babel, related to the alleged vitiation and violation of rules and instruction of urban licensing processes in Gaia, has 16 defendants, including Patrocínio Azevedo, real estate businessmen Paulo Malafaia and Elad Dror, founder of the Fortera group, accused of dozens of economic crimes such as corruption and influence peddling.