The verdict in the Benfica emails case was known on Monday, at the Central Criminal Court in Lisbon.
Francisco J. Marquez (FC Porto’s Director of Communications) was sentenced to one year and ten months in prison, and Diogo Faria (Director of Content) to nine months, both of whom received suspended sentences. They are both condemned to pay €10,000, jointly, to Luis Felipe Vieira, who becomes an assistant in the operation. Julio Magalhaes (ex-Director of Porto TV) was acquitted – “The court understands that Julio does not have the power to prevent this disclosure. The crime of unjustified access does not occur, Judge Nuno Costa said.
The Communications Director of FC Porto was sentenced to 10 months in prison for aggravated correspondence or communications violation, and another year and two months for an offense against a legal person; He was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison, suspended for the same period. The content manager was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for one year, for a correspondence or communications breach.
The court says Porto’s communicators “deducted, built incorrect narratives” and damaged Benfica’s reputation, according to the ruling, which the judge explained: “At stake is the offense of infringement of communications. And the behavior of the defendant Francisco Marquez in disclosing the emails in question fulfills this type Of the crimes, the defendant committed what is called manipulation of information.”
In March, the judge announced an exacerbation of correspondence and telecommunications violations crimes, especially in the case of Diogo Faria, which led to the postponement of the reading of the ruling until May, when it was postponed again.
In 2017, the Communications Director of FC Porto revealed, live on Porto TV, electronic correspondence exchanged between Benfica’s captains.
The Public Prosecution Office has called for the convictions of Francisco J. Marquez, Diogo Faria and Julio Magalhaes.
Benfica’s lawyers, Rui Patricio and Joao Medeiros, were the first to respond, with Medeiros leaving a decision on the appeal later: “It was recognized that there was manipulation of information, there was a lie and unjustified behaviour. Rivalry is healthy, but it cannot be at any price.”
Nuno Brandao, attorney for Francisco J. Marquez, announced an appeal: “The accusations fell in the vast majority, and were exaggerated. The contents of the emails, which were revealed without fraud, were found to be correct. We will appeal, we disagree, and certainly we will also have an appeal.” From the Public Prosecution and Benfica »
On compensation to Luis Felipe Vieira]: «We will see, we will oppose it. He did not complain, nor was he insulted [é assistente no processo]. The judge only considered that he was injured, we’ll see.”
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