Former number two of Rendeiro was arrested on arrival in Portugal – O Jornal Económico
Rendeiro’s former number two was arrested on Thursday night upon arrival in Portugal, revealed today on “TVI 24” and on “Expresso”.
The former banker was arrested to serve the effective prison sentence to which he had been sentenced. Paulo Guichard will no longer be present at the judges in the case.
The Judiciary Police arrested the banker on Thursday morning when he landed at Francisco Sá Carneiro airport in greater Porto.
The former head of the BPP was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for grave economic and financial crimes. However, the penalties of these different processes have not yet passed through.
Just recently, the former banker had criticized João Rendeiro for having fled from Portuguese justice. “Fleeing is always an act of cowardice. Facing up is an act of dignity, it is a civic act of example for people”, he said in an interview to “SIC”.
Rendeiro’s number two has lived in Brazil for 12 years, since 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, having moved to the other side of the Atlantic after the start of the processes in which he is accused of financial crimes.
This week, Paulo Guichard filed a petition with the Portuguese courts to inform him that he would return to Portugal on Thursday.
“Given the huge social upheaval caused by the flight of defendant João Rendeiro (former president of the BPP) and the public suspicions that immediately feel about the risk of being the next defendant in this process to evade the action of justice, it is the intention of the Defendant Paulo Guichard will start residing in Portugal again ”, mentions the application, cited by Lusa Paulo Guichard also informed that he would start residing in Porto.
“The defendant’s immediate return to Portugal – where his family lives (mother, children, sister and nephews) and, as a result of family support that was never haggled, he is able to maintain an integrated and socially responsible life, without committing crimes – is the proven proof that it intends not to evade national justice”, according to the document.
As did the co-defendants and former BPP administrators (Salvador Fezas Vital and Fernando Lima), Guichard then announced that he would hand over his passport to be subject to the prohibition on leaving Portugal.