Several arrested in an operation for fraud in public contracts – euronews

Several arrested in an operation for fraud in public contracts – euronews

Reuters, 17/02 14:18 CET

A car Civil Guard. EFE / File

Melilla / Madrid, February 17 ( EFE ) .- The Civil Guard have arrested 14 people in Melilla, Malaga, Madrid and Las Palmas Gran Canaria related to a corruption in public procurement, which investigates alleged crimes against public administration, money laundering and forgery.

As reported by the Directorate General of Civil Guard, provides for the detention of another person, so that the total number of detainees eventually amount to fifteen, which others involved, which will be cited in the coming days as suspects will be added.

The so-called Tosca operation, carried out by agents of the Central Operations Unit ( UCO ) of the Civil Guard, namely the Group of Crimes against the Administration is continuing an investigation initiated in 2013 and related offenses against public health and money laundering.

In this performance, various documents evidencing was operated “the diversion of public funds and corruption procedures for awarding public contracts within the autonomous city of Melilla, “and that gave rise to the Opera operation.

After these first performances, which led arrests of senior positions in the federal district, including the Minister of Environment, José Ángel Pérez Calabuig and records in various ministries, in late 2013, the UCO took over the investigation.

A few months later, in February 2014, new records in public offices of the autonomous city were performed, as well as commercial companies linked to contracts investigated and individual records.

After analyzing the documents seized in recent records The existence of several people who fraudulently managed public funds in collusion with officials, public officers and directors of various companies was detected.

This, according to the Civil Guard, vitiated the recruitment process, putting personal interests or business the general interest.

“Of these embezzlement and contract awards, would have benefited economically companies awarded contracts investigated, also detected profiting by some officials and charges public, “says the military institution.

In operation, led by the magistrate No. 4 of Melilla and the Office of the autonomous city, plus agents UCO are participating agents of the provinces where they have carried out the arrests.

euronews published from Reuters as, but not intervenes in the published articles.

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