Spanish minister resigns after implicated in corruption case

Spanish Health Minister Ana Mato resigned Wednesday after a judge concluded she had benefited economically from a corruption scandal.

"I have decided to present my resignation as minister of health, social services and equality. I do not want my presence under any concept to be used to harm the government of Spain, its prime minister or the Peoples' Party (PP)," Xinhua quoted Mato as saying in a statement.

Judge Pablo Ruz earlier Wednesday ruled that Mato benefited economically from a corruption scandal, which is currently under investigation. The report into the wide-ranging Gurtel corruption scandal concluded that 43 people should face charges in relation to the case.

Ruz highlighted that Mato, through her former husband Jesus Sepulveda, "enjoyed or benefited, on her own or in the company of other members of the family" from gifts and commissions received from the Gurtel organization.

These benefits came "in the form of tourist services, payment of family events and other articles for personal use."

Sepulveda is a former senator of the ruling PP and former mayor of the town of Pozuelo, just outside of Madrid.

Ruz said that between 1999 and 2005, Sepulveda received at least 732,640 euros ($916,986) from the organisation directed by Francisco Correa "in payment for public contracts which were awarded irregularly."