Detained Portuguese ex-premier awaits judge's ruling in fraud and corruption case

News photographers and cameramen take pictures of a Portuguese police car where former Prime Minister Jose Socrates is brought into a court, in Lisbon, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Socrates has been detained by police as part of an investigation into corruption, money-laundering and tax fraud, Portugal's Attorney-General's office said Saturday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

En esta imagen de archivo, tomada el 19 de mayor de 2011, el ex primer ministro de Portugal Jose Socrates gesticula mientras responde a una pregunta en una conferencia empresarial en Lisboa, Portugal. (Foto AP/ Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates remains in police detention while an investigating magistrate decides whether he should answer charges of corruption, money-laundering and tax fraud.

Socrates, who was Portugal's center-left Socialist prime minister from 2005 to 2011, was due in a Lisbon court Sunday for a closed-door interrogation.

Socrates, 57, was detained by police late Friday. The Attorney-General's office said he and three others are suspected of colluding in crimes.

The magistrate must decide whether there is enough evidence to bring charges against the suspects. One of them, Carlos Santos Silva, is reportedly a longtime friend of Socrates. His construction company flourished during Socrates' time in power.

Officials provided no further details, citing Portugal's judicial secrecy law which forbids the disclosure of details from ongoing investigations.