Fernando Madureira could be released in February | OneFootball

Of the ten people convicted in the Operation Pretoriano case, stemming from the general assembly of November 13, 2023—which marks its two-year anniversary this Thursday—Fernando Madureira was the only one to receive an actual prison sentence, of 3 years and 9 months, and is currently incarcerated. The verdict, read on July 31 of this year, imposed prison sentences on the remaining nine defendants ranging from 2 years and 7 months to 4 years and 1 month, but all were suspended.

Known as Macaco, the former leader of the Super Dragões has been deprived of his freedom since January 31, 2024, the date he was detained following the execution of the first arrest and search warrants of Operation Pretoriano, later moving to preventive detention on February 7 as a coercive measure. This deprivation of liberty could have ended this coming December, but due to appeals filed in the case, it is very likely to extend until February 2026.

For judicial purposes, Fernando Madureira is currently serving preventive detention and not the 3 years and 9 months sentence imposed by the panel of judges at the São João Novo Court. This is because, after the first-instance decision was announced, Macaco filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

This appeal suspended the finalization of the verdict and, consequently, the possibility of requesting parole as early as December 15. On that date, by adding the time spent in preventive detention to the potential time served of the actual sentence—which will always be cumulatively counted in any final outcome of the case—two-thirds of the 3 years and 9 months sentence would already have been served, which would allow for a parole request.

However, the preventive detention regime he is under, due to the appeal, does not allow for the granting of parole. There are, however, maximum time limits for its duration. The usual framework is one year and six months; in this case, since the crimes were classified under violent crime, the maximum period was increased by six months, totaling two years. Thus, from February 7, 2026—two years after the preventive detention was decreed during the investigation phase—Fernando Madureira may, barring new procedural developments, be released for having reached the maximum period.

In the current judicial context, Fernando Madureira’s release before February 2026 will only be possible if the appeal filed in the Court of Appeal is granted and replaces the first-instance verdict. In that case, the preventive detention would be revoked, although the Public Prosecutor’s Office could then file an appeal seeking a new conviction.

This scenario is, however, unlikely in light of current standards for appeals in the Portuguese judicial system. If such a favorable decision were to occur in the coming weeks, it would hypothetically allow the former leader of the Super Dragões to attend the FC Porto general assembly, scheduled for the 22nd of this month, which will deliberate on his expulsion as a member—a situation similar to that of Sandra Madureira, Vítor Catão, and Vítor Aleixo (father).

There is also the possibility that Fernando Madureira’s deprivation of liberty will extend beyond February 2026. Parallel to Operation Pretoriano, and following the extraction of a certificate from that case, Operation Golden Ticket was launched, investigating an alleged scheme of distribution and sale of FC Porto tickets over the past few years.

On May 11 of this year, several search warrants were executed, including at Estádio do Dragão, which resulted in the seizure of 4,000 tickets for various FC Porto games, more than 44,000 euros in cash, various documents and technological equipment, as well as the indictment of 13 defendants, among them Catarina Madureira, one of Fernando Madureira’s daughters. According to Record, the former leader of the Super Dragões is not, for now, a defendant in this case. Should he become one and be placed in preventive detention as a coercive measure, the prospect of release that Macaco currently faces could once again be postponed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.