The Generalitat, led by Carlos Mazón, has operated as Generalitat Chief Prosecutor in corruption cases tied to the Consell since the Botànic era. Officials from the Generalitat Presidency told INFORMATION that the proceedings would proceed on their regular track when asked about the six corruption-related cases still pending verdicts or sentences. In nearly every instance, the cases have involved former leaders of the People’s Party, with two cases set to go to trial or face penalties.
Camps case for a 1.8 million Gürtel contract
The Generalitat remained a private accuser in the case against the former Generalitat head Francisco Camps, concerning a 1.8 million euro payment for the Gürtel project from four ministries and five public companies between 2004 and 2008. The trial concluded last October, and sentencing is pending. The Generalitat participated as a civil plaintiff in the National Court, alongside an external lawyer selected by competition to claim a portion of the funds transferred. A private attorney was used to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
During the 2014 investigation, the Generalitat Prosecutor’s Office intervened to approve small contracts with Francisco Correa’s companies, which declined to appear as charges while Alberto Fabra served as president of the Consell. This situation was reversed in 2019 under Botànic when the case was reopened to include Francisco Camps. The trial began on January 23 and concluded on October 19, 2023.
Some of the money from the Pope’s visit was recovered
The Generalitat seeks to recover 3.2 million euros in a bribe paid for the contract to publish details of the Pope’s visit to Valencia in 2006. The 19 individuals convicted in this final Gürtel-related ruling within the Valencian Community were confirmed by the Supreme Court in April 2023.
Recovery of funds looted from the Pinedo treatment plant
Justice succeeded in recovering 3 million of the 23.5 million misappropriated at the Pinedo treatment plant. The Valencia Court executed the first phase of sentencing, resulting in 24 defendants receiving a total of 97 years of imprisonment since November 2020.
Favorable handling of the fire cartel and Castellano’s rifle affair
The Generalitat requests a 15-year prison term for former Interior Minister and former Government delegate Serafín Castellano. The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office seeks fifteen years of imprisonment, an additional 41 years of disqualification, and an estimated payment of around one million euros to Castellano for alleged preferential treatment given to the Avialsa T-35 company in relation to firefighting services, possibly linked to hunting and rifle arrangements. The case, based on initial estimates from INFORMATION, is expected to be heard at the National Court between September 23 and November 20.
Recovery of funds from collaboration aid
Among the final decisions, the Generalitat Prosecutor’s Office must trace the funds to recover defrauded amounts from the treasury, including the accounting liability of 2.7 million euros tied to the diversion of 1,623,819 euros in subsidies paid to the Cyes Foundation for projects in Nicaragua. Of that amount, only 43,953 euros reached the intended euro target in the first decision of the Blasco case. In the second part, already decided, the fifth division of the Valencia Court ordered that the Court of Accounts determine the defrauded amount, with the Generalitat calculating it at five million euros.
AIDO aid fraud
Thirty individuals will stand trial for alleged fraud in relation to AIDO aid. The complaint was lodged during the PP era, but the Generalitat appeared on December 14, 2015.