Reuters reported on 27th October that Spanish police have arrested 51 people as part of a graft investigation involving local government construction contracts, the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
The investigation, “Operation Punica” — centred around town halls mainly in the regions of Madrid, Murcia, Leon and Valencia — is one of numerous corruption scandals that have hit Spain’s mainstream political parties and many bankers in recent months.
“The collusion between local councillors and civil servants, with builders and energy service companies, and the corruption of middle-men and key companies, has helped them to secure contracts worth around 250 million euros ($300 million) in the last two years alone,” the prosecutor said in a statement.
A judicial source said one of those arrested was Francisco Granados, a former conservative deputy president of the Madrid region who resigned in February after it was revealed he had millions of euros in a Swiss bank account.
Information from Switzerland has helped Operation Punica, and investigators have issued search warrants on 259 properties, 400 banks, companies and insurers, blocked current accounts and assets and embargoed 30 vehicles. (Reporting by Raquel Castillo; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Sarah Morris and Louise Ireland)
Comment
Excellent, robust, anti-corruption work by the Spanish police.
- Brexit: No visa but Britons will pay €7 to travel to EU countries
- 96-year-old woman assaulted and robbed in her home in Valado dos Frades, in Nazaré
- Caldas da Rainha – Four detained for kidnapping and attempted extortion and robbery.
- Judicial Police apprehends three persons suspected of control of women for prostitute
- Three arrested for thefts of tobacco machines and religious items from cemeteries
- Social-Democratic deputy in the Madeiran parliament caught drink driving – shots fired during car chase.
- Policia Florestal Corps rescues tourist who was lost in the mountains of Madeira
- Easy Jet makes an emergency landing
- Foreigner detained for crimes against Asian Tourists”
- 84% of fire brigades failed to report information to district commanders
- Minister of Interior reaffirms to voluntary firefighters that all avenues of dialogue are open in reform process
- Prevention of terrorism: Festive security precautions
- “Do more and even better” in the fight against fires in the coming years
- Six years in prison for former ATL employee who used minors for thefts
- Elderly woman killed in Foz Côa during house robbery
