Os pais de Ruben Cunha, um jovem que morreu electrocutado num semáforo em Lisboa, em Julho de 1997, mantêm desde 1999 um diferendo em tribunal com a primeira equipa de advogados que os representou: António Pinto Pereira e João Perry da Câmara (actualmente, vice-presidente da Ordem dos Advogados). Estes, numa acção cível, reclamam o pagamento de honorários que não foram liquidados, mas uma perícia realizada às contas apresentadas detectou "duplicação de horas de trabalho e de despesas". Ao DN, Francisco Cunha adiantou que, terminado o processo cível, irá avançar com uma queixa-crime por burla contra os dois causídicos.

O processo decorre na 15.ª Vara Cível de Lisboa e estão em causa cerca de 20 mil euros (quatro mil contos) que os advogados afirmam não terem sido pagos pelos pais do jovem. Porém, durante o processo, foi constituída uma equipa de três peritos (dois indicados pelas partes e um terceiro pelo tribunal) que passou a pente fino os honorários descritos pelos advogados, que tinham estabelecido, no início do processo, um valor de 30 contos/hora (150 euros). As conclusões são arrasadoras: "Pela conferência aos relatórios de contas apresentados, verifica-se um total de duplicação de horas no montante de 27,7 horas, assim como uma duplicação de despesas no valor de 15 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 [cerca de 80 euros]".

Os peritos, Carlos Vieira, João Martins e João dos Santos, elencaram ainda outras situações de despesas incluídas em relatórios de honorários que foram repetidas em documentos posteriores.

Estas situações tinham já sido elencadas por João dos Santos, técnico oficial de contas, que num relatório elaborado para Joaquim Cunha, pai de Ruben Cunha, também foi taxativo: "Numa análise mais aprofundada às descrições das parcelas apresentadas nos três relatórios verifica-se a duplicação, tanto de honorários como de despesas, de valores já previamente apresentados e integralmente liquidados, que totalizam 23,5 horas, assim como o débito de novas horas num total de 59,3 relativos ao período que finda em 17/12/1997, sobre o qual já estavam as contas fechadas".

Concluindo, o técnico oficial de contas, remata: "Refira-se que esta situação é desagradável e nada contribui para o bom nome e prestígio de tão destacados advogados da nossa praça, sendo apenas justificável por lapso nos serviços administrativos dos referidos advogados." Contactados pelo DN, ambos os advogados se escusaram a prestar qualquer tipo de esclarecimento no que diz respeito à contabilidade do tempo gasto em diligências no processo, segundo documentos a que o DN teve acesso.