51 arrested in Spain in anti-corruption operation

Madrid, Oct 28 (IANs) Fifty-one people, the majority of them belonging to the ruling People's Party (PP), were detained by Spanish Civil Guards as part of a massive anti-corruption operation Monday, the State Prosecutor's office said.

Operation Punica, which is being directed by Judge Eloy Velasco is directed at corruption in local and regional authorities, with special attention to the awarding of public contracts to a value of around 250 million euros ($318 million) in exchange for the payment of illegal commissions over the past two years, Xinhua reported citing the statement.

Among those detained are both politicians, owners of construction companies and civil servants, with Francisco Granados, the former general secretary of the PP in Madrid and the president of the Deputation of Leon, Carlos Martinez, (also a member of the PP), the biggest names to fall.

They are accompanied by Jesus Norberto, the secretary of the Murcia Institute of Tourism and six mayors from towns in the Community of Madrid, four of whom are members of the PP, one of the Socialist (PSOE) Party and one who represents the Madrid Democratic Union Party.

The former PSOE mayor of Cartagena, Jose Antonio Alonso, was also detained along with a Civil Guard who is accused of leaking information to Granados.

Other crimes under investigation in the operation are money laundering, tax avoidance, traffic of influence, miss-investment of public funds, falsification of documents, revelation of police secrets, fraud against public administration, participation in business forbidden to public servants and criminal organization.