His release from Évora prison happened, the public prosecutor said, because “the consolidation of the evidence is stronger” so “there is less risk of his interfering with the inquiry”.
The court therefore decided that Sócrates will stay “under house arrest”, without an ankle bracelet, but he is forbidden from contacting “various entities and individuals”, namely the other suspects in the process.
The court explained that the change comes after reassessing the measures against the former prime minister and it was decided after listening to the public prosecutor, who had heard another 10 people and conducted 30 searches since José Sócrates’ last reassessment.
Three months ago Sócrates was told he could leave prison if he accepted an ankle bracelet, which he refused.
The leader of the ruling coalition and prime minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, refused to make any comment on the release and the general secretary of the opposition Socialist party, which Sócrates was leader of, said the measure would not influence the result of the general elections on 4 October.
José Sócrates, (58) was arrested on 25 November and charged on suspicion of corruption, tax fraud and money laundering in a process that involves eight other people, including a former minister, Armando Vara.