In Alicante, the Provincial Court acquitted five defendants accused of fraud linked to distributing free food through the NGO Plaes Asistencial. The court found insufficient evidence for the Prosecutor’s Office and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to prove the alleged crimes. The verdict notes that three defendants were said to have asked some beneficiaries to pay five euros for delivering food batches, yet the decision did not classify this as a crime, describing the conduct as an irregularity instead.
Carlos Parrales, the founder and current director of Plaes Asistencial and one of the acquitted individuals, testified that the payments were made by members who participated in other organizational activities. The five defendants denied that they sold large quantities of food during the proceedings.
Plaes Asistencial, the NGO at the center of the case, welcomed the acquittal with a statement highlighting its more than ten years of work to help and integrate lives in Alicante and expressing that justice had finally been served after a long process, while denying the allegations as false.
According to the decision announced by the Third Circuit, an appeal remains possible to higher authorities. The defendants were represented by four prosecutors and lawyer José Esteve Villaescusa; they faced sentences ranging from 27 months to four years on charges of fraud reported by the Government Sub-Delegation, but the court cleared them of deception, fraud, and falsification due to the lack of proof that beneficiary lists were altered to obtain more food from the Red Cross or the Food Bank, nor that the names on the lists were forged.
I distribute aid
Plaes Asistencial received authorization and collaborated with the Spanish Agricultural Guarantee Fund (FEGA) in distributing free food to the province’s most vulnerable residents. The organization operates offices in Alicante, Elche, Mutxamel, and Torrevieja. Between 2017 and 2018, it received food valued at 326,129 euros from the Red Cross and the Food Bank, according to the court’s findings. The decision notes difficulty in precisely determining how much food Plaes delivered to beneficiaries.
The record shows that three defendants occasionally asked beneficiaries to pay five euros for the delivery of food batches or smaller sums for certain foods, yet there was no supporting evidence to prove a systematic charge. The former NGO leader, who served as a volunteer and social worker, was said to have requested any amount be paid by recipients, though the details remained unproven.
The court also found no conclusive proof that duplicate beneficiaries were included in the lists sent to FEGA to obtain larger food quantities. It was noted that the allegedly fake lists presented by Plaes were not part of the incident but were prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Government Sub-Authority. This absence of key documents affected the ability of the court and the parties to examine the evidence and identify any contradictions. The court concluded that there was no proven deceit in meeting the subsidy criteria.
Moreover, the decision states that the subsidy Plaes received was not used for any hidden purpose. Even though the distribution of food reportedly did not conform to the basic administrative requirements, the location of the distribution remained appropriate. The court did not find convincing evidence that the signatures on food receipt records were not handwritten by the beneficiaries themselves or by a relative. The analysis notes the lack of a formal handwriting expert to confirm authorship, which weakened the assertions of forgery.
Ultimately, the Provincial Court determined that the proven facts did not constitute the crimes alleged by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The criminal complaint was dismissed, and acquittal was maintained. [Source: Court decision documents]
Unfounded accusations
Plaes Asistencial states that the case inflicted substantial material and moral harm on the NGO. It thanks its partners, volunteers, and collaborators for standing by the organization during what it calls a baseless accusation. The NGO reaffirmed its commitment to aiding those in need and noted that it has the necessary facilities and ongoing support from supporters across local government bodies, including provincial and city councils, the University of Alicante, and a range of companies and foundations.
Beyond distributing food and clothing, Plaes Asistencial runs a shelter for people in social emergencies. It continues to seek sponsorship from companies to sustain this project. The organization emphasizes that the case shows acts of solidarity and responsibility in Alicante society and highlights the participation of Carlos Parrales, the founder and director who collaborates on corporate social responsibility initiatives through the Alicante Business Platform.
Note: The narrative reflects the official court ruling and subsequent statements by Plaes Asistencial. Citations refer to the court’s published decision and related statements from the NGO and associated parties.