MP corruption case: TUI reacts to allegations of biased ‘habeas corpus’ decision

The Court of Final Appeal (TUI) has responded to an article published in yesterday morning’s Son Pou newspaper, where doubts were cast on the rejection of the “habeas corpus” petition made by former Prosecutor General, Ho Chio Meng.
The newspaper questioned the participation of judge Song Man Lei in the decision to convict him, as well as the decision to deny his claim of unlawful imprisonment.
TUI’s statement indicates that “foreign judge” Viriato de Lima ordered the preventive custody of Ho Chio Meng.
TUI added that Lima declared a self-impediment from the decision on the “habeas corpus” petition, according to article 29 of the Macau Criminal Code. According to the statement, only in the occurrence of a case identified in articles 28 and 29 of the Criminal Code can the three judges of the TUI be declared unable to judge on the case. This request can be fulfilled by their own will or that of a third party, TUI added.
Having presided over preliminary hearings, Viriato de Lima is unable to pass any further judgment in Ho’s case. The other two judges of the collective will still be able to judge future trials of this case, the statement adds. RM