The European Public Prosecutor's Office assumes the investigation of the 'Mediator case' on former General Espinosa and the contracts in the Sahel

The Canarian court will continue to investigate the rest of the plot allegedly led by 'Tito Berni'

MADRID, 17 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Public Prosecutor's Office has assumed the investigation of the 'Mediator case' regarding the now retired general of the Civil Guard Francisco Espinosa, the only defendant in provisional prison, and the contracts linked to an EU project in the Sahel, although the investigation of the The rest of the plot allegedly led by former socialist deputy Juan Bernardo Fuentes Curbelo, alias 'Tito Berni', will continue in Investigating Court Number 4 Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

According to legal sources consulted by Europa Press, Judge Ángeles Lorenzo-Cáceres has sent that part of the case to the European Prosecutor's Office after it claimed jurisdiction over it because it is a project, the GARSI-Sahel, financed by the European Commission and managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Public Administration and Policies (FIIAPP), for which the former general was head.

The instructor, in an order of March 22, had sent the proceedings carried out to date in the 'Mediator case' to the European Prosecutor's Office to determine if among the investigated facts there were any of its competence.

Specifically, Lorenzo-Cáceres has agreed in the order issued this Monday to "make available" to the European Prosecutor's Office the investigations carried out on this matter, as well as to the general himself, so it will now be the community institution that decides whether to continue or not in provisional prison.

Legal sources indicate that the proceedings sent to the European Public Prosecutor's Office also refer to the participation of businessman José Suárez Estévez, known as 'El Drones' for the plot.

According to the summary of the case, to which Europa Press has had access, this businessman would have obtained up to three equipment supply contracts for GARSI-Sahel: One in 2020 for Mauritania and Niger, and another in 2021 for Mali.

However, General Espinosa denied before the examining magistrate that he favored Suárez Estévez to obtain said contracts with the Rapid Action Surveillance and Intervention Groups in the Sahel (GARSI-Sahel).

Except for this part, the Canarian court will continue to investigate this alleged plot headed by Fuentes Curbelo; his nephew Taishet Fuentes; General Espinosa; and the Canarian businessman Antonio Navarro Tacoronte, the 'mediator'.

According to the summary, they would have dedicated themselves to collecting money -although also trips and parties- in exchange for political favors, with "a perfectly structured and defined hierarchy, with a clear division of functions and dedicated to the commission of crimes related to the corruption".

The investigations point out that the group pursued "an obvious lucrative purpose by obtaining economic enrichment as well as different personal benefits as a result of illegal actions."