In a short statement, the court said that the appeal had been “denied” and that the appelant's lawyers would be informed in writing.

The source told Lusa that the appeal in question was lodged about a year ago.

Sócrates was imprisoned on remand for more than nine months on suspicion of serious tax fraud, money laundering and receiving bribes for illicit acts.

More than two years after the criminal investigation began, with the first detentions made on 20 November 2014, no formal charges have yet been laid. A decision on whether to charge anyone in the case or shelve the investigation is due by 17 March.

Other suspects in the case include a former government minister, Armando Vara, the former chairman of failed bank Banco Espírito Santo, Ricardo Salgado, Portuguese-Angolan businessman Hélder Bataglia, and Carlos Santos Silva, a long-time friend of Sócrates that prosecutors believe received bribes on behalf of the former prime minister.