National court magistrate demands trial of 16 suspects in multi-million euro hydrocarbon fraud
A judge at the National Court sends 16 defendants to trial, including a civil guard and the partner of a media entrepreneur, over an alleged tax fraud scheme in hydrocarbons valued at 148 million euros.
National court magistrate demands trial of 16 suspects in multi-million euro hydrocarbon fraud
Santiago Pedraz, head of the Central Investigation Court, has referred the case against some fifteen alleged members of a fraud ring that allegedly defrauded the State of 148 million euros through manipulation of value-added tax in the energy sector to the criminal division.
The judicial matter, dubbed Gaslow, covers the period between 2018 and 2021. Among those who will have to face trial are a member of the armed forces linked to internal leaks from the Socialist party, Juan Sánchez Yepes, as well as Claudio Rivas, a close collaborator of the controversial businessman Víctor de Aldama.
The magistrate attributes seven tax offences to the latter, membership of a criminal organisation, repeated falsification of documents and money laundering. To the former he imputes participation in a criminal structure, bribery, disclosure of confidential information and asset laundering. Eighty-two commercial companies are likewise listed as subsidiary liable parties.
The fraud ring operated through three separate cells that maintained fluid communication. Its strategy consisted of evading VAT payment on fuel to obtain a financial cushion that would allow them to sell below the competition, expanding market share and turnover.
The criminal pyramid was structured around two supplier companies: Gaslow Abastecimientos and Nascor Energías, under the direction of Antonio Rodríguez Estepa and Juan Simón Martínez. Each cell had its own leader, the main ones being Rodríguez Estepa, Javier García Pérez and Rivas himself.
The amounts defrauded grew exponentially: just over six million in the first year, close to thirty-one million in the second, and nearly one hundred and twelve million in the third. Once the illicit proceeds were obtained, the organisation did not materialise them directly from the shell companies, but instead processed prior circuits to conceal their origin. Capital laundering operations valued at around sixty million have been traced.
The court document dedicates a specific chapter to the Civil Guard captain, assigned for fourteen years to the UCO. Pedraz documents repeated contacts between the uniformed officer and the criminal network, as well as financial compensation in exchange for alerting them about ongoing investigations, house searches and imminent arrests.
The personal wealth of the officer increased by 134 per cent during the five-year investigation period: from just over 250,000 euros to almost 600,000.
Information prepared from ABC
Source: ABC