Operation 'Fuentona' in Soria: judge extends secrecy of investigation for another month
The Court of First Instance in Soria extends the secrecy of the investigation into alleged corruption at the Town Hall until 22 September, where seven people were arrested in June.
Extension of judicial secrecy in the case of alleged corruption at the Soria Town Hall
The Instruction Section (Court 3) of the Court of First Instance in Soria has agreed to prolong for a further month, from 22 August, the secrecy of the investigation into operation 'Fuentona', according to ABC citing sources from the Superior Court of Justice of Castile and León (TSJCyL). The investigation was initiated following a search of the Soria Town Hall on 23 June and the initial arrest of seven people for alleged corruption.
The same court has accepted the participation of the PP as a public prosecutor in the proceedings. The Section had previously given the go-ahead to Vox under the same condition.
The facts of 23 June
Operation 'Fuentona' was carried out by the Organic Unit of Judicial Police (UOPJ) of the Civil Guard in Soria, under the direction of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Provincial Court and of the Court of First Instance Court number 3. In addition to the search at the municipal headquarters, two other raids were conducted at private residences in the capital of Soria.
Among the seven people arrested was Yolanda Santos, then councillor for Environment, Tourism and Commerce at the Town Hall. All were subsequently released. Santos resigned from her position and left the PSOE.
Alleged crimes under investigation
The proceedings point, initially, to the alleged commission of several crimes: abuse of influence, administrative misconduct, negotiations and activities prohibited for public officials, falsification of documents, money laundering and criminal organisation, all provided for in the Spanish Criminal Code.
The area of the Town Hall identified in the investigation is that of Tourism and Commerce, which Santos headed during the current parliamentary term. The case would be related, in principle, to contract awards to a company with which the former councillor would allegedly have had links.
Source: ABC