The Judicial Court of the Madeira District has convicted Nelson Veríssimo and Alice Mendonça of defamation and calumnious denunciation in a case brought by former MEP Liliana Rodrigues.
Alice Mendonça was sentenced to a 100-day fine, at a rate of 10 euros per day, for co-authored calumnious denunciation. Nelson Veríssimo was convicted of four counts of aggravated defamation and calumnious denunciation, receiving a 100-day fine for the denunciation and a combined sentence of 500 days of fines for the defamation charges, at the same daily rate.
Both must pay joint compensation of 5,000 euros for calumnious denunciation. Nelson Veríssimo is also ordered to pay 35,000 euros for aggravated defamation. The court found that the actions had serious repercussions on Liliana Rodrigues' personal and professional life. Nelson Veríssimo has stated his intention to appeal the ruling.
