Among the primary indications of criminality highlighted by the presiding judge in the Mediator case against those implicated in the suspected extortion of ranchers facing legal issues are the numerous calls and messages exchanged among the individuals being investigated, which were retrieved from the mobile phone of Marco Antonio Navarro Tacoronte, the intermediary who lends his name to the case.
On multiple occasions, the former national deputy of the PSOE and alleged leader of the scheme, Bernardo Fuentes Curbelo, insists that Navarro Tacoronte deposit funds into the account of the Tetir Sports Association of Fuerteventura, which he was managing at that time and which, according to the instructor’s suspicions, would be used to launder the funds.
Consequently, in November 2020, the Mediator approached Taishet Fuentes, who was then the general director of Livestock for the Government of the Canary Islands and a nephew of Fuentes Curbelo, stating: “I require 5,000 pens for the damned football team. The Tetir. If I do not receive money from them, they will not provide me with anything” (sic).
This conversation is among those emphasised by Judge María de los Ángeles Lorenzo-Cáceres in the order concluding the investigation of that segment and transferring it to the parties for them to indicate whether they wish it to proceed to trial before the Jury, a decision made public this Tuesday.
Subsequently, Navarro Tacoronte also requests another 15,000 “pens” for a company known as Activia7.
Under pressure from the former national deputy, Navarro Tacoronte eventually contacts him and claims: “Alright, look, I have secured 5,000 pens for the Montesdeoca cheese factory football team and 15,000 from Antonio Bautista,” a businessman in the renewable energy sector who is also among those investigated in this matter.
To facilitate the transfers, he instructs the former national representative to send him the bank account details, subsequently providing him with both the football team’s and his personal bank account information.
However, Fuentes Curbelo repeatedly complains about the lack of funds being deposited. “Nothing has been credited to the club’s account. Don’t let them deceive you, and don’t try to deceive me,” he admonishes.
Around that period, Navarro Tacoronte sent a message to the then national deputy requesting an immediate response “regarding the football team,” to which Fuentes Curbelo replied by sharing his email address.
When the deputy informs him that he is in Madrid, the Mediator exclaims: “Be good, I will be there tomorrow, and we also need to settle accounts!”
In what appears to be an effort to reassure Fuentes Curbelo, Navarro Tacoronte advises him that he has convened with Bautista, and the entrepreneur has consented to pay him “5,000 euros” (this time he specifies euros, not pesetas).
Concerning the pressures and proposals for ranchers to manage and address issues, the defendants engage in discussions where they review various facilities in Fuerteventura, seemingly in pursuit of those that may be more susceptible to alleged extortion.
The then national deputy at the end of November 2020 commits to coordinating the visits with his nephew, to which Bautista replies: “Ok, splendid.”
Taishet Fuentes even relayed confidential details to the Mediator regarding a rancher who faces challenges in legalising his facilities due to their location within a protected natural area, prompting him to seek a territorial reclassification for some time.
Upon receiving the email, Navarro Tacoronte inquires: “How much? What do you want me to provide you with?” during discussions in which the Mediator claims to be the “direct advisor to the minister” and at times to the Government of the Canary Islands.
The Mediator clarifies that the sum to be exacted from a rancher is 4,890 euros, which, according to the judge, coincides with the requested amount of 5,000 euros, plus 1,000 euros for the individual overseeing the management, as confirmed by the affected entrepreneur when he provided testimony in Court, at which point he stated that the agreement was never fulfilled.
At that time, Taishet Fuentes had over five hours of discussions with his uncle regarding the approach to take with the rancher, the amount to demand, and the directions were to follow the businessman’s vehicle to collect an envelope containing 6,000 euros that he would pay after a meeting in a hotel.
Taishet Fuentes was present during this meeting, where he assured the entrepreneur of the legalisation of the property, as the businessman testified.
During the discussion, the Mediator even stated, as recorded in the document: “You are aware that obtaining the licence requires bribing many individuals.”
Shortly thereafter, Fuentes Curbelo’s nephew repeatedly urged the Mediator to deposit money into his account, as his partner demanded rent payments and childcare: “Look, for heaven’s sake, help me out of this!” after having informed him days earlier: “The files are becoming costly.”
At that juncture, Bautista reimbursed them 600 euros and Fuentes Curbelo’s nephew also received photographs taken by Navarro Tacoronte depicting several 50-euro notes that appeared to total 1,000 euros, and soon after, he received a bizum from Bautista amounting to another 400 euros.
In November, a recorded conversation captures Navarro Tacoronte telling Taishet Fuentes that, in return for doing him a favour, he will cover the costs of a trip to Tenerife, a gesture well-received by the former director-general.
At another moment, the Mediator instructed him: “Reimburse me for the bills tomorrow. I will speak to whomever you know (…) The game is over. The league starts, the American league.” When Taishet Fuentes sends him receipts for “4,000 or so quid,” the reply is: “I will sort it for you, and will you sign the paperwork for me tomorrow?” He adds, “When you arrive in Las Palmas tomorrow, let me know. Take a moment; there is an individual who wishes to speak with you privately, and then I will provide you with the trip to Tenerife.”
