Six arrests at Soria Town Hall over alleged corruption scheme
The Guardia Civil has arrested six people, including a PSOE councillor, in an operation against a municipal corruption network allegedly responsible for offences of influence-peddling, abuse of office, falsification and money laundering.
Six arrests at Soria Town Hall over alleged corruption scheme
A police operation has concluded with half a dozen arrests linked to the Soria municipal council. The action took place on Tuesday, when Guardia Civil officers raided the town hall and two private residences. Four arrests were made within the province and two more in the Madrid region.
The investigation, coordinated by Court of First Instance number 3 and the Provincial Public Prosecutor's Office, seeks to clarify a series of irregularities that could constitute corruption offences. Among the unlawful acts being examined are influence-peddling, abuse of office in public administration, document falsification, money laundering and the formation of a criminal gang. The case file remained hidden from public view until last April.
Among those arrested is a municipal representative from the Socialist Party who held responsibility for the Tourism and Environment portfolios. According to reports published by ABC, the contracts in question were awarded to a company with which the councillor allegedly maintained some form of business relationship. The leftist party has held local power uninterruptedly for almost two decades.
The former mayor during twenty years, Carlos Martínez, was in Morocco when the scandal broke. From Tangiers, the politician said he was "completely calm" about the investigation and called for caution from public opinion, arguing that the case file remains sealed. Martínez recently left his municipal post to take a seat in the regional parliament.
The current council, presided over by Javier Antón, has issued a brief statement in which it underscores its willingness to collaborate fully with the judicial authorities. The statement warns, nevertheless, that it is unaware of the scope of the ongoing proceedings.
The Guardia Civil has not ruled out further arrests as the detective work progresses.
Source: ABC
Source: ABC