The general of 'Mediador' denies having favored 'José el Drones' with supply contracts in the Sahel

He assures that he only sent the businessman "to whom he brought the material" from the mission

MADRID, 2 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The General of the Civil Guard Francisco Espinosa, investigated in the 'Mediator' case, denied before the judge that he favored the businessman José Suárez Estévez, alias 'José el Drones', to obtain equipment supply contracts for the Rapid Action Groups Surveillance and Intervention in the Sahel (GARSI Sahel).

However, in the summary, to which Europa Press has had access, it is stated that this businessman would have obtained up to three contracts: In 2020 he supplied equipment for GARSI Sahel Mauritania and Niger, and in 2021 he made deliveries in Bamako (Mali).

In his statement as being investigated before the instructor of the 'Mediator case' on February 16, to whose recording this agency has had access, the retired general indicated that he, in the administration of the project in the Sahel, was only "at the operational aspects". because the "economic and contracting" was carried out by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

He pointed out that his team was in charge of the operational part, they designed the technical characteristics of the equipment that had to be published on the foundation's website. Then the businessmen presented documentation "and a contracting table awarded." "We were not part of that table, and everything was controlled by the General Intervention of the State Administration," he said.

Thus, he denied having provided information to Suárez Estévez and only acknowledged having sent him when they saw "the one who was carrying the material." He added that the businessman was already endorsed "because he had sold drones to the Civil Guard of Logroño" and went a lot through the General Directorate "to meet with the general of the Special and Reserve Units."

Despite this refusal, it should be remembered that on February 1, the magistrate of the Investigating Court number 4 of Santa Cruz de Tenerife agreed that the Asset Recovery and Management Office (ORGA) locate the assets "presumably from illegal activity" of the former command of the Civil Guard and his close family environment, in Belgium, Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Morocco and Cape Verde.

The judge thus accepted, with the approval also of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, the request of Internal Affairs of the Civil Guard that explained that Espinosa, in addition to having gone through the command of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, was director of the GARSI Sahel until his retirement.

In his office, Internal Affairs put the magnifying glass on the link between the general and the plot with the businessman Suárez Estévez and his company 'Asesoramiento y Servicio de Drones SL', and detailed a series of contracting files for which that company would have been awarded. in the GARSI Sahel Project. There is even talk that the general should be paid 70 percent of what was agreed and the rest "on delivery of the drones."

The instructor, in this February order to which Europa Press had access, collects a list prepared by Internal Affairs with the contracts signed with the company and the countries where the material was going. Thus, she cites for example that in 2020 she supplied equipment to GARSI Sahel Mauritania and Niger, and in 2021 she delivered to Bamako (Mali).

The instructor adds that, from the investigation, it can be inferred that the relationship between Espinosa and Suárez Estévez resulted in contractual ties in Mauritania, Niger and Mali, and that the general traveled to Cape Verde, Morocco and Senegal. She also remembers that the businessman paid Espinosa for stays and services in Gran Canaria.

And given that the proceedings presuppose that there were "gifts, favors or compensation from the official for the benefit of his assets" it also agreed to include Belgium, based on statements collected from another of the defendants, the businessman Navarro Tacoronte.

After this resolution, the court officiated at the Office of the Internal Affairs Operations Section of the Civil Guard so that, through the ORGA, it could locate those assets.