Trial continues without Chiang

The fifth trial linked to the ex-secretary Ao Man Long corruption case will continue without including facts related to businessman Pedro Chiang, the main defendant, the Lower Court’s (TJB) judges panel unanimously decided yesterday.
According to Radio Macau, the panel adopted the temporary measure as it is expecting the Second Instance Court’s (TSI) explanation on its decision, released last week. For the time being, the TJB will continue the trial of the other 12 defendants without referring to Chiang.
Mario Silvestre, president of the panel, said this is a cautious measure. He stressed that they are short on time and that the trial must go on.
Last week, the TSI decided that Chiang was wrongly notified by the prosecution, because he was not in Macau at that time, and so was not personally notified. For that reason, the businessman was no longer considered a defendant in this case, but that does not mean he would not be trialled in further cases.
The appeal was filed by the defendant’s attorney Joao Miguel Barros, who said that such a decision would be like “a virus spreading to other cases”. He said that the fifth case linked to the former secretary is at stake.
Chiang, aged 56, was accused of seven counts of corruption, four of abuse of power and one of money laundering in the corruption scandal of former secretary Ao Man Long, but he fled Macau in 2007 before being called to testify by the CCAC.
With an Interpol warrant out for his arrest for more than a year, the businessman, a Portuguese and Cambodian dual national, lived in Cambodia, but has been residing in Lisbon since September 14 last year with his wife and son.
Chiang has expressed to the Attorney General’s Office his willingness to be investigated and prosecuted by the Portuguese authorities, but it was denied.
In 2001, Portugal and Macau agreed on legal and judicial cooperation, which requires each region to report judicial proceedings in criminal matters and to aid in the capture and surrender of suspects. However, the extradition of Portuguese citizens out of the country is only permitted in cases of terrorism and international organised crime.