Mediador Case Jury Begins Deliberations on Bribery Charges
The jury in the first part of Spain's 'Mediador' case has begun deliberations to decide the guilt or innocence of three individuals accused of ongoing bribery in a suspected solar panel contract corruption scheme in the Canary Islands.
The jury in the first part of the 'Mediador' case has received the questions they need to answer. They must decide if the three people accused of ongoing bribery are guilty or innocent. The jury can also recommend a pardon.
Prosecutor Jaime Serrano-Jover from Tenerife's Anti-Corruption Court accuses businessman Antonio Bautista Prado, retired Civil Guard Major General Francisco Espinosa Navas, and Marco Antonio Navarro Tacoronte, known as 'the mediator', of ongoing bribery and is asking for the harshest possible sentence.
This part of the case looked into a suspected corruption scheme involving contracts to install solar panels in the Canary Islands. The businessman, who aimed to grow his company there, is accused of making deals with the mediator and the general. He allegedly paid them to connect him with key business figures in the islands.
In his final report, the prosecutor confirmed the serious charge of active bribery (giving a bribe) and also added a charge of passive bribery (receiving a bribe).
Presiding Judge Emilio Moreno highlighted three main points for the jury to consider:
- Did the businessman give money to the general?
- Was General Espinosa's trip to Fuerteventura with his mistress, paid for by Bautista, a bribe for connecting the businessman with important figures in the Canary Islands?
- Was General Espinosa Navas still a public official between August 2020 and January 2021, when these events supposedly took place?
The jury has now gone to deliberate and answer 14 questions. They will work on this until 8:00 PM today. If they haven't finished by then, they will rest and continue their discussions first thing tomorrow morning.