The Guardia Civil searches CDC headquarters again and arrests party treasurer

Barcelona (CNA).- The Spanish Guardia Civil have once again searched the headquarters of Liberal party CDC and arrested its treasurer, Andreu Viloca, as part of the so-called operation 'Petrum'. The police have also arrested 7 businessmen accused of having allegedly paid irregular commissions to the party in exchange for public contracts. The searches are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregular financing of the party, to find out whether companies paid a 3% commission to the CDC foundation in exchange for public contracts. In the first phase of the investigation, in July, Spanish police arrested Jordi Sumarroca, CEO of Teyco and son of one of the founders of CDC, Carles Sumarroca, and two other members of his family. The second phase already included a search of CDC headquarters. Catalan President Artur Mas described these operations as "exaggerated" and assured that both CDC and the President himself are "big game targets" due to the pro-independence process in Catalonia.  

 

10 people have been arrested and 23 searches have been carried out in Barcelona, Madrid, Olot and Sant Fruitós del Bages, in Catalonia.

CDC's treasurer, Andreu Viloca, was escorted by two members of the Spanish Guardia Civil on his way to the party's headquarters this morning, where there were already many journalists gathered.

Amongst the arrested businessmen is Josep Antoni Rosell, general director of infraestructures.cat, the Catalan government's institution responsible for public contracts. Two councils in Catalonia have also been searched this morning, Olot and Sant Fruitós del Bages.

All the businessmen arrested are linked to building companies and accused of having allegedly paid irregular commissions to the party in exchange for public contracts. They are Xavier Tauler from Copisa, José Luis Gamero, from Rogasa, Jordi Soler from Soler Group, Antonio Garcia Bragado from Tec 4, Sergio Lerma from Oproler, a construction company based in Madrid, and Josep Manel Bassols from the same company’s Barcelona branch. 

Mas: "CDC and even myself are big game targets"

In a press conference this morning, Mas also commented on this new phase of the 'Petrum' anti-corruption investigation. He described the operation as "exaggerated" and assured that both CDC and the President himself are "big game targets" due to the pro-independence process in Catalonia. "They can search as much as they want: they won't find any irregularity" he stated, referring to the Spanish Guardia Civil searches. "I'm very calm" as "the Catalan government is one of the most demanding institutions regarding the criteria for assessing public contracts" he assured. In relation to the alleged irregular financing of the party, Mas emphasised that he maintains his "absolute trust" in how CDC has been managed. The Catalan President assured that such operations won't stop Catalonia's push for independence. "CDC and even myself are big game targets" and this "proves to be clear to many people's eyes", he concluded.

Spanish Minister for Justice: Mas’ statements are "a disservice to democracy"

Spanish Minister for Justice, Rafael Catalá, considered this Wednesday's searches and arrests "a guarantee" that "the Rule of Law is working and Spanish Justice is independent". He also described Mas’ statements regarding the relationship between Spanish justice and the executive's campaign to stop Catalonia's push for independence as "a disservice to democracy". "He transmits the image that Spanish justice is conditioned and this is not true at all" he said.

The third phase of the 'Petrum' anti-corruption investigation

The Spanish Guardia Civil already searched the headquarters of the Catalan Liberal Party CDC and those of the party’s foundation, CatDem, in August. Investigators also searched the local councils of Figueres, Lloret de Mar, Sant Celoni and Sant Cugat del Vallès, all towns in which the party is currently or had previously been in power. The general coordinator of CDC, Josep Rull, denied the accusation of irregular financing, saying that all donations to the foundation CatDem have always been “legal and public”.