The witness statement scheduled for this Wednesday of the general auditor of the Government of the Canary Islands before the judge investigating the alleged scheme to collect bribes in exchange for political favors of the ‘Mediator case‘has been suspended and set for next November 7, as confirmed by legal sources to Europa Press.
At first it was planned that the head of the Court of Instruction Number 4 of Santa Cruz de TenerifeMaría de los Ángeles Lorenzo-Cáceres, listened to the general auditor last July and although it was later postponed until tomorrow, Wednesday, it will finally take place in November.
This statement is part of this case, in which the magistrate investigates a alleged corruption plot led by the former deputy of the PSOE Juan Bernardo Fuentes Curbeloalias ‘Tito Berni’. This scheme allegedly offered businessmen privileges in contracting and supposedly favorable treatment in inspections and public aid. The summary of the case, uncovered last February, includes meetings and encounters, including participating in parties with prostitutes, alcohol and drugs.
In addition to listening to the general auditor of the Canary Islands Government, the head of the Court also plans to take statements as witnesses from three senior officials of the regional Executive: the head of the Registries, Industries and Animal Welfare service of the General Directorate of Livestock, Antonio Manuel Cardona; the technician of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Pedro Peláez Pérez; and the head of service Refund of Subsidies of the General Technical Secretariat, Guillermo José de Diego.
Likewise, the statement of Cristian Mauricio Lillo and Gemma de los Ángeles Venegas, the alleged recipients of a transfer of 7,500 euros executed by the company of José Suárez, alias ‘José the Drones‘, accused in the case.
The businessman Sergio de Frutos Gouth, Jesús María Pérez Spinola and Maximiliano Poveda are added to the list of those investigated to appear. The administrator of the Club is also summoned as a witness. Soccer Vega Tetir, the team of which the former PSOE deputy was president.
In parallel to the Santa Cruz de Tenerife court, the European Prosecutor’s Office assumed the investigation of the ‘Mediator case’ relating to the retired general of the Civil Guard Francisco Espinosathe only defendant who entered provisional prison, and the contracts linked to an EU project in the Sahel.
