A bogus contract guaranteeing former Benfica participant Gedson Fernandez the precise to take advantage of the likeness of former Benfica participant Gedson Fernandez was the opening door for the Ministry of Public Affairs (MP), the primary defendant within the soccer world. Operation Malapata. Fictitious financial institution statements, false invoices and many money owed that remained unpaid – and declared to the tax authorities.
Agent César Boaventura is charged with ten counts (5 of certified fraud, three of falsifying paperwork, one among certified tax fraud and one among cash laundering). In the indictment, which PÚBLICO had entry to, the MP outlines the allegations Modus Operandi de Boaventura, the defendant submitted false financial institution statements of accounts containing thousands and thousands of euros with the intention to acquire the belief of businessmen to acquire loans. With these funds, Boventura financed a lifetime of luxurious, which contradicted the phrases of the chapter, the courtroom of Vila Nova de Famalicao dominated on October 31, 2014.
“In addition to the notoriety and publicity he sought on social media to lend extra credibility to his function as a profitable soccer businessman, he drew up contracts for the exploitation of picture rights, debt confessions and financial institution statements, paperwork. He used to persuade third events to present the quantities he was asking for and channeled them for functions apart from these declared by him”, says the MP.
In addition to forged paperwork and indicators of wealth, which he displayed on social networks, Boventura would use his alleged closeness to former Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira for his private acquire. Guarantees that those that paid him may combine gamers into the youth ranks of the “Eagles” and influence transfers, guaranteeing simple returns.
In the case of Joe Lima, a Portuguese-Canadian businessman within the civil building trade, the agent promised liquidity to settle the debt, the MP claimed, holding an account of Vieira’s cash. The investigation estimated that the development entrepreneur owed the defendant greater than 300,000 euros, draining “a lifetime’s value of financial savings.”
“In 2021, César Boventura, to ensure that he can pay what’s owed to Lima, knowledgeable that he has 30 million euros overseas, however solely 20% belongs to him, as a result of the remaining will belong to the President. Benfica.
César Boaventura assured that the previous president of Benfica, conscious of the existence of a legal motion below investigation, had requested him to maintain 22 million euros in that account, subsequently the related account shouldn’t be capable of function”, writes the MP.
Luis Felipe Vieira was arrested in July 2021 Operation Red Card, Resigns as president of Benfica and is changed by Rui Costa.
In addition to Joe Lima, there are 5 different victims within the lawsuit towards Cesar Boventura. MPs say the scheme all the time adopted the identical path: Boventura defrauded businessmen by offering false financial institution paperwork and took out numerous loans from them. Whenever he questioned the cash owed to the agent, Boventura discovered a purpose to justify the delay.
1.2 million to declare
César Boaventura will ultimately, strolling by way of the halls of various golf equipment, handle to efficiently enter the intricacies of soccer and participate within the alternate of gamers. The agent is suspected of resorting to issuing false invoices, with the tax authorities estimating that 1.2 million euros of earnings was not correctly declared. Yet he’s suspected of resorting to bookies Online In an try and launder this undeclared cash.
Also indicted within the proceedings are Ilda Barbosa, José Meia, Ramiro Viana and Paulo Romeu, who’re accused of aiding Cesar Boventura within the alleged tax evasion scheme. MPs say funds supposed for brokers have been despatched to the accounts of alleged associates, in an try to cover the origin of the cash.
César Boaventura was arrested on December 15, 2015 Operation Malapata, which led to discoveries at Estádio da Luz and Alvalade. The agent was positioned below home arrest with an digital wristband, a coercive measure that continues to be unchanged.
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