A major anti-corruption probe continues to rock the province of Almeria after the number of people being investigated was expanded to 17 this week.
The so-called Mascarillas Case began over suspected irregularities in the purchase of face masks during the Covid pandemic.
It has since expanded into alleged irregularities into the awarding of public works contracts, with the president of Almeria Javier Aureliano Garcia among the arrested.
Five of the detainees, including Garcia, have now been released with charges and a series of precautionary measures.
They must appear before the court on the 1st and 15th of every month, are required to surrender their passports and are banned from leaving Spain while the case remains open.
Who has been arrested?
The five people who were taken into custody and questioned include Garcia, president of the Diputación de Almería and head of the Almeria branch of the conservative party Partido Popular, and his vice president Fernando Gimenez.
Mayor of Fines Rodrigo Sanchez and his son and an unnamed employee of the provincial government were also cuffed and questioned.
At least five further individuals have given statements as investigados, among them two brothers of the provincial president.
With these additions, the number of people formally under investigation has risen to 17.
What is the case about?
The investigation stems from the so-called Mascarillas case, concerning a €2 million contract for medical supplies signed during the height of the pandemic.
That initial probe uncovered potential ilicit profits of up to €1 million, according to recordings and messages included in the case file.
From there, the investigation widened. A judge, acting on a detailed report from the Guardia Civil’s elite UCO unit, now believes there are indications of several possible offences.
These include bribery, embezzlement of public funds, influence peddling, corruption and money laundering.
These suspected irregularities relate not only to the original Covid-era purchase but also to public works contracts examined as separate pieces of the case.
The UCO continues to open new lines of inquiry. On Thursday, agents took a statement from Juan Jose Martinez, mayor of Tíjola and provincial deputy for European Funds.
The Guardia Civil is analysing the role of Martínez and his partner through their company Tagilis in several of the contracts under scrutiny.
What happens next?
The case remains open and is expected to run for months as investigators piece together financial documents, messages and procurement records.
With 17 people already linked to the probe, and more testimonies being taken, the scandal shows no sign of easing.
For now, all eyes in Almeria remain on the courts, where Spain’s anti-corruption investigators continue to unravel one of the province’s most significant political crises in years.
