Former president of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, this Thursday presented a letter to the Court of Investigation No. 16 of the Catalan capital, in which he made himself available to clarify allegations of improper payments that could amount to up to 200 million. 30 million euros These are being investigated, as EL PERIÓDICO of the Prensa Ibérica group explains. The former president of the club, in the text available to this newspaper, claims that he is keen on this issue. “to facilitate educational work” of the caseOf course, always be aware of the content of the trial process and the complaint filed by the prosecution against him and a second person, although the possibility of expanding the charge is always open. The reason is hidden. On 7 December, Mossos searched Barça’s offices seeking information. Invoices and other documents were seized.
In the same letter sent by Bartomeu, who was defended by his criminal lawyer José María Fuster-Fabra, The former president of Barça recalls when he learned on February 1 last year that FC Barcelona would report the irregularities detected in the audit to the prosecutor’s office (“forensic forensics“), asked the public ministry to provide him with the documents provided by the club, and also offered to clarify every aspect of the doubts regarding his management at the head of the organization. During the previous investigation, the prosecutor’s office, according to sources consulted by this newspaper, was never called to testify. The former president always denied the alleged illegalities. After months of investigation, the prosecutor’s office filed a complaint with the court, which in turn went to the Instruction Court. issue 16 Once accepted for processing, it was required to log in and register on 7 December, as well as ask a lawyer and other people related to the case. It was decided to request documents from organizations.
Overpayments and commissions
Representatives appeared at Barça offices request documents linked to alleged kickbacks For the transfers of football players such as striker Malcom, who signed a contract in 2018; Allegations of excessive payments to lawyers, some linked to another player, splitting of payments and establishment of companies to formalize payments. At the public presentation of the ‘forensics’ and before lodging the complaint, the current president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, claimed that ‘some allegations of economic crimes’ were confirmed in the ‘forensics’ assigned to the Kroll agency. Under the management of Bartomeu’s board of directors. “Payments were made without reason, other payments were made for unfounded reasons, other payments were disproportionate and disloyal to the club management,” he emphasized. Mossos needs to prepare a report with the documents seized after analysis.
Consulted sources assured this newspaper that the Mossos made requests to the current Barça management team during the entry and registration of documents regarding the signing of some players and during the player exchange operations between the clubs. Investigators are tracking whether kickbacks were paid to companies set up solely to invoice Barca. Weeks later he received 10 million euros for signing MalcomThe Brazilian player, who signed a contract with Bartomeu in the summer of 2018, paid 41 million euros to Girondins de Bordeaux. According to the club’s current managers, suspicious commissions are close to 5 percent, but 33 percent have been detected.