Madeiran deputy Filipe Sousa, elected for Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) to the Assembly of the Republic, has reaffirmed his innocence in a case where he is indicted for undue receipt or offer of advantage.
Sousa stated he is accustomed to "political persecution" from his 12 years in local government and therefore faces the current situation with "naturalness." He intends to clarify "this whole narrative" with judicial authorities once notified, following the lifting of his parliamentary immunity.
The Public Prosecutor's Office indicts Sousa over a vehicle rental contract from 2025, when he was mayor of Santa Cruz. The deputy countered that his mandate was suspended at the time and he will prove payment with documents. He criticized the prosecutor, accusing him of damaging the Public Prosecutor's Office's work for "political-party" reasons and referencing his past as a jurist for the Espírito Santo Group.
