PSOE reports Corbalán to Court of Auditors over penthouse purchase
The PSOE requests an investigation into Pedro Corbalán, chief executive of Planifica Madrid, over the acquisition of a luxury penthouse for €6.3 million. The complaint points to missing documentation in the file released by the Ayuso Government.
Accounting investigation into the property acquisition
The PSOE has submitted a complaint to the Court of Auditors against Pedro Corbalán, chief executive of Planifica Madrid, according to elpais.com. The action seeks to clarify the purchase of a penthouse in Madrid's Chamberí neighbourhood by the regional company, an operation that cost €6.3 million in public funds.
Corbalán was the key figure in the negotiations and procedures leading up to the agreement. He signed the confidentiality agreement on 3 February, the deposit agreement on 27 February and the deed of sale on 14 April this year. According to informed sources, he carried out essential tasks such as visiting the property and negotiating the final price.
Gaps in documentation
The socialists argue that the file released on 17 September by the Government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso lacks relevant documents. They highlight that Corbalán signed the deposit agreement without a prior statement of need or a specific agreement from Planifica Madrid's Board of Directors authorising the transaction. The complaint asks the Court to identify who issued the purchase order and to access the entity's minutes book to verify whether Corbalán informed the administrative body, which comprises nine members.
The submission filed on Tuesday also requests that those with economic-financial, treasury, payment authorisation and supervisory responsibilities within Planifica Madrid who participated in the transaction be identified.
Context of multiple complaints
The PSOE's action adds to others submitted to the Court of Auditors. The Más Madrid party and lawyer Javier Flores, linked to the left, also filed complaints shortly after elpais.com revealed the purchase on 29 July. Flores filed an supplementary submission on Wednesday directly pointing to Corbalán as responsible and including President Ayuso and the Councillor for the Presidency, Miguel Ángel García, as potential parties at fault.
Silence and political blockade
Corbalán has remained silent since the case came to light. The Ayuso Government has blocked attempts by the left-wing opposition to have him appear before the Madrid Assembly. The Councillor for the Presidency, García, made a parliamentary appearance two weeks ago which, according to socialist sources, was conceived to close the matter without addressing the documentary shortcomings.
Parallel judicial investigation
Simultaneously, the judicial investigation is proceeding in Madrid's number eight investigating court. The judge in charge has requested that the Public Prosecutor determine its jurisdiction to continue, a crucial matter given that some of the five complaints affect individuals with immunity before higher bodies, among them Ayuso and García.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)