Debate in Courts: Legal cases of Oltra and Puig’s brother condition a high-tension debate
The Valencia 4th Division continues its inquiry into a lawsuit brought by the Civil Guards Unit of the Judicial Police Service against several companies, some led by figures connected to the investigation. Francesc Puig, brother of the Consell president, is mentioned as part of the context, with Ximo Puig noting that one company would benefit from a Generalitat subsidy linked to the regional president’s son. The document does not declare the signature irregular; it frames the actions as those that could align with the practices of those under investigation and with the pattern of recurring public subsidies from different administrations, including Valencia. [citation: Fiscalía Anticorrupción]
The report highlights that one investigated action involved hiring the president’s son at Mas Mut Produccions, associated with Comunicacions dels Ports. The transaction occurred through a channel tied to a grant from the Valencia Employment Service. Two days before the president’s son left Social Security, the subsidy request deadline lapsed. The program required that the person be registered as a job seeker with Servef no more than four days before participating. Representatives state that the individual was urged to resign voluntarily when four months of service as a tourism editor were not completed, and the position was filled by another person serving as sound technician-writer. [citation: Intervención Judicial]
The Organic Unit of the Judicial Police attributes detected irregularities in the companies run by audiovisual producers Francesc Puig and Juan Enrique Adell Bover to possible human or computer errors, while noting that others might be intentional. [citation: Informe policial]
The debate extends beyond the courts, with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office submitting a report that assesses potential irregularities in subsidies to Comunicacions dels Ports, Mas Mut Productions, and Canal Maestrat, which received support from the Community and Catalonia. The prosecutor outlines four types of irregularities in the rationale used to justify grant expenditures. [citation: Fiscalía]
There is concern that bills may have been manipulated to obtain a larger subsidy than warranted, potentially constituting forgery of a commercial document. The Civil Guard confirmed that certain invoices requested by the administration were questioned for eligibility and justification. If they fail to meet criteria, the actions could describe subsidy fraud or administrative violations requiring reimbursement, including costs related to refueling, telephone, or agency services. [citation: Fiscalía]
Requests to the Generalitat Valenciana (Ministry of Education) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (Presidency) show 100 percent allocation of expenses, meaning the same costs were claimed from both administrations. The prosecutor suggests that neglecting to disclose other subsidies, particularly those from Catalonia, could be treated as subsidy fraud. [citation: Fiscalía]
Consequently, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor requests two audit reports from the intervention services of both autonomous communities to examine subsidies granted to these companies between 2015 and 2018, considering all supporting documents. This is aimed at identifying amounts possibly obtained improperly under criminal law. [citation: Fiscalía]
In this context, it would be crucial to determine whether subsidies exceeding 120,000 euros exist, as such facts could be charged as subsidy offenses with penalties including imprisonment and fines if repayment is not made in time. The prosecutor concludes by requesting summons for Francis Puig, director of Comunicacions dels Ports and Mas Mut, and the applicant for assistance, along with Juan Enrique Adell Bover, the solidarity manager of Canal Maestrat. [citation: Fiscalía]
Valencia 4th Division has summoned Francis Puig to testify on May 23, with Adell Bover scheduled to appear two days later. Rubén Trenzano, Director General for Language Policy of the Valencian Government, is also under investigation following a complaint by a political party, continuing public scrutiny. [citation: Fiscalía]
The investigations specifically address grants aimed at promoting Valencia’s youth employment, supporting Catalan or Aranese digital media, and fostering local development. Comunicació dels Ports released a statement indicating that the involved invoices were limited in number and are expected to be resolved at the next court appearance. The company emphasizes that the suspicions do not imply a crime and notes that, although some invoices referenced subsidies from both the Valencian and Catalan administrations, they do not show duplication or double funding for the same expense. They also point out that a 2020 Anti-Fraud Authority review concluded with a favorable administrative decision without requiring reimbursement. [citation: Comunicació dels Ports]
The case has been publicly raised in Cortes by the Popular Party, which has called for political accountability from Ximo Puig. Officials have emphasized that the administration treats all companies equally, while opponents argue about potential conflicts of interest. Puig has asserted that he remains calm about the judicial inquiry into subsidies to his brother’s firms. [citation: Cortes]
Related posts:
Legal cases around Oltra and Francis Puig intensify scrutiny of subsidies in the Valencian administration Puig Case: Court Proceedings and Generalitat Stance Update Duplicate bills and the hiring of Ximo Puig’s son in the spotlight Public Prosecutor Updates Case on Calp Cemetery Exhumation and Reparation Demands Puig and the Rise of Family-Run Groups in the Ibex: A Global Fashion and Fragrance Powerhouse Unemployment Subsidies and SEPE Assistance in the United States and Canada La Vega Baja rallies behind Ximo Puig’s bid for continued presidency Unemployment Benefit Reform: What Changes Mean for Claimants in Spain Puig’s Growth-First Tax Debate in Valencia: A Centre-Left Strategy for Inflation, Jobs, and Energy Unique Meta Title 10 {“title”:””} Water, Power, and Politics: A Valencia Assembly in Focus