A Lisbon court fined the Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Nobre de Sousa, 816 euros for a censurable and unjustified omission that delayed the Mondego case involving three sailors accused of leaking state secrets.

The court found that the omission was an act that undermined the justice process, contributing to delays in the trial.

During the ongoing Mondego instruction, prosecutors warned the vessel’s limited seaworthiness but suggested it could still sail under degraded conditions with structural fissures, a non-operational engine, and cooling-pump failures, potentially returning to port if mission rules made it impossible.

Defense lawyers will push to have the sanction charged to the Navy’s leadership rather than the institution, and they seek the detainment of two witnesses to ensure their appearance at a future trial.

The trial began on April 22 and centers on three sailors accused of disclosing confidential Mondego information, with prosecutors labeling the actions imprudent, careless, and omissive.

Prosecutors allege the defendants knowingly disseminated restricted information about Mondego’s status, location, mission, and operational limits, framing the conduct as reckless and negligent.

Disciplinary proceedings were reopened after the Supreme Administrative Court ruled earlier sanctions unlawful.

The Navy acknowledges an internal notification failure related to the case, but asserts it does not constitute disrespect toward the court, with the Chief of Staff taking responsibility.

The court said the Navy’s conduct gravely undermined the court’s regular functioning and public trust in both the judiciary and the armed forces, amounting to an attempt to undermine judicial authority.

The second trial session was postponed because two naval witnesses were not notified in time, and there were impediments to their attendance.

The Mondego affair also involves related actions dating back to 2023–2025, including a separate insubordination case against 13 sailors and leadership changes within the Navy.

Ultimately, the court condemned Admiral Nobre de Sousa for compromising proceedings and damaging the judiciary’s integrity, describing the omission as a grave hindrance to justice.