Portuguese court rules that issuing an ante-dated cheque without funds is punishable even if paid before the stated date.

The Tribunal da Relação de Lisboa upheld the criminal penalty for issuing an ante-dated cheque without funds, despite the cheque being presented and paid before its stated issuance date. The prosecution argued that the act of issuing the cheque without provision constituted the crime, regardless of the subsequent payment. The court agreed, establishing that the offense is completed at the moment of issuance without funds, making the timing of payment irrelevant to the criminal liability.