MP confirms arrest of Mayor of Funchal and two others resulting from fall of tree that killed 13 people

The public prosecutor confirmed Thursday 4^th January 2018 that three defendants, including the mayor of Funchal, have been arrested, due to the fall of the tree that killed 13 people in Madeira, and continued the investigation “for the collection of forensic expert evidence.”

According to a statement published on the page of the District Attorney General of Lisbon (PGDL), what is at stake is “the investigation of the omission of the care required in the conservation of urban space and the tree.”

“The mayor of Funchal [Paulo Cafôfo], the councilor of the Municipality of Funchal with the responsibility of the Urban Environment, Green Spaces and Public Spaces [Idalina Perestrelo] and the Head of the Division of Gardens, were constituted and questioned as defendants, and Green Urban Spaces of the City Hall of Funchal, “the same note said.

At issue are “the facts of the case concerning the death of 13 persons and offenses to the physical integrity of 53 others, due to the fall of a tree in public space, being in question the investigation of the omission of the care required in the conservation of urban space and from the tree”.

“The investigation has been carried out by the PJ of Funchal under the direction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the DIAP of Funchal, in addition to the collaboration of botanic specialists, and the investigation is still ongoing to gather forensic expert evidence,” he adds. Source DN

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