SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 30 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
Lawyer Pablo Carranza, tax and legal advisor for RR7 United, currently under investigation in the ‘Masks case’, has stated that he never provided counsel to the firm’s owner, Rayco González, regarding a contract with the Government of the Canary Islands. This contract, valued at 4 million euros, was for acquiring medical supplies during the pandemic. Carranza claimed that he only became aware of this transaction when his office received an invoice for the Corporate Tax.
Furthermore, he highlighted that it did not surprise him that a company like Rayco González, which was engaged in the buying and selling of vehicles, could invoice such a sum for masks imported from China. He acknowledged the loans provided by RR7 United to other associated businesses, such as Baremar, which reportedly received 272,000 euros from the 4 million allotted by the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS).
He also refuted any claims of acting as an intermediary between Rayco González and the SCS, or that he issued any suitability report regarding the company’s capability to supply masks. He sought to clarify that his role is strictly focused on tax preparation, accounting, and addressing issues in accordance with Tax Law related to businesses.
“I am neither a commission agent nor involved in intermediation. My role has never been to engage or disengage in contracts. My responsibility lies in calculating taxes and representing them before the Tax Agency and Social Security. Beyond that scope, I possess no expertise,” he articulated during his testimony in the parliamentary commission investigating the alleged irregularities in medical supply acquisitions during the pandemic by the Government of the Canary Islands.
In response to numerous queries posed by commission members, Pablo Carranza noted that his firm handles a client base of approximately 350, spanning the offices in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. He clarified that he has never worked for the Government of the Canary Islands nor has he acted on behalf of the owner of RR7 United to secure the medical supply contract. He also denied any communications with any representative of the Government of Spain or others.
Carranza emphasized that the pandemic era was “extremely challenging,” as tax and labour advisors like himself were confronted with “numerous ERTEs and a host of work situations” that they were unable to manage due to sudden regulatory changes implemented by the Government. Additionally, he asserted that he is not involved in contracting activities and noted that with 350 clients, “if I focus on monitoring every action someone takes, I simply won’t have time,” he remarked.
He did acknowledge that after the delivery of one million masks imported by RR7 United, the Customs Department reached out to him to initiate the procedure stipulated by European regulations for their destruction due to falsity. However, he clarified that at no point did he advise Rayco González to return the 4 million euros that the Government of the Canary Islands had disbursed since, as he insisted, he was unaware of this transaction.
“FOR THE FIRST AND LAST TIME.”
Carranza also denied having any connection with Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, although he admitted to seeing him “for the first and last time” during a family meal at a restaurant in El Cotillo, Fuerteventura, which included Rayco González’s brother-in-law and was publicised through a photograph. He now asserts that the mask contract was not discussed at this gathering and that he did not attend “to resolve anyone’s matters.” “That’s not my domain,” he stated.
In this regard, he highlighted that his attendance at this commission is due to the fact that “years ago, I could freely attend events and share a table with Mr. Paulino Rivero, without anyone holding it against me. However, what has transpired today has resulted in harm to my family and close circle through a photograph, as if I could dine with anyone without it being deemed normal. What is intolerable is attempting to harm me by publicising a falsehood and fabricating a narrative.” He further expressed his disappointment that some commission members aspire to be “judges and prosecutors” by alleging that he misappropriated the 4 million euros intended for the mask purchases.
