SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Unified Association of Civil Guards will be popular accusation in the ‘Mediator Case’ that investigates an alleged corrupt network associated with European aid in Canarian livestock and that affects Francisco Espinosa, a retired general who has entered prison.
In total there have been 12 people arrested – only the general is in jail and the rest are released with conditions – and the Investigating Court Number 4 of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is investigating the alleged crimes of bribery, money laundering, forgery, belonging to a criminal organization and influence peddling.
The AUGC points out in a statement that “corruption should have no place in the Civil Guard” and that is one of the values that characterize it, “the firm rejection and fight against irregular practices within the armed institute.”
In his opinion, “a problem of this caliber must receive the unanimous condemnation of all the representative associations.”
In this way, it indicates that work should begin within the Council of the Civil Guard to implement the necessary mechanisms to avoid these irregularities.
The association details that when the alleged criminal acts of which the former general is accused occurred, “he was no longer part of the direct organic structure of the body”, but he was a collaborator of the European project GAR-SI Sahel, for the training of agents from North Africa.
From the Unified Association of Civil Guards, they insist, “we will follow the procedure, we will be part of the public prosecution and if the crimes are charged, we expect exemplary sentences.”
Along these lines, he points out that “corruption cannot enter the institution, as the Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption requests of Spain”, so they will continue “to press for the creation of a specific body to monitor compliance of the ethical norms of the Corps and the necessary mechanisms are implemented to avoid irregularities”.
