Chiang’s attorney demands original documents

Businessman Pedro Chiang’s attorney has accused the Prosecution Office (MP) of manipulating the documents linked to the legal process. Yesterday, the Lower Court (TJB) continued to hear the witnesses of the fifth trial linked to the ex-secretary for Public Works and Transportation Ao Man Long’s corruption case.
This week’s first audience was again awash with controversy, according to Radio Macau.
When a document copy was presented to a witness during the hearing, attorney for the defendant, Joao Miguel Barros, argued that it was a copy and was not a complete version.
Chiang’s attorney demanded the MP attach the original documents to the process, so the court can compare and validate the evidence. He also said he has serious doubts regarding the evidence handled by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), and announced he will continue to fight against that.
For its turn, the prosecutors claimed that the original documents are included in other processes.
The defence demanded the court balance the weapons between the defence and the prosecution and accused the MP of arranging the whole process in order to hamper the defence’s mission.
Once again, the prosecutors explained that the process was set by the CCAC, but the defence advocated that the MP should not use the CCAC as an excuse.
The panel of judges asked Joao Miguel Barros to make a written request, so the trial session would not be interrupted.
Last week, Chiang’s attorney won his first battle when the TJB announced that it would have access to the former secretary’s so-called “friendship notebooks” and agendas, kept secret until now by the CCAC, in order to decide whether or not the attorneys could have full access to them.
Joao Miguel Barros, supported by other attorneys, claimed that without free access to that evidence the defence is in a disadvantaged position compared with the MP. The notebooks and agendas include details of every illegal transaction and the kickbacks received, as well as meetings held.
The fifth case linked to the Ao Man Long saga includes 12 defendants besides Chiang. The businessman accused of seven counts of corruption, four of abuse of power and one of money laundering, left Macau in 2007 before being called to testify by the CCAC.