Murcia corruption investigations, 3 detentions and offices of Paramount licensee raided

Murcia local news

Something happened this morning which may have wider reaching implications than appears at first glance.

Throughout the last year police have been investigating alleged irregularities and corruption in relation to the development of the northern section of the capital of Murcia including a number of dwellings and the Nuevo Condomina development. These involve a number of parties, as well as public offices and the Town halls planning department.

The original deal struck between the Town hall of Murcia and the developer was for the construction of a top level stadium for the city as part of the total project to construct an urban development and the retail park. The agreements were made without the project going out to tender, and allegations were immediately made that there were improprieties in the entire process. 

Under the instruction of the Juzgado de Instrucción número 8 de Murcia, investigative court number 8 in Murcia, the police seized documentation from public offices and businesses this morning, as well as detaining the Director de la Gerencia de Urbanismo el Ayuntamiento de Murcia, ( urban development Murcia)  Alberto Guerra, the lawyer Higinio Pérez Mateos and the engineer Renato de Noce. 

They are not ruling out the possibility of more detentions both within the Region and nationwide in the course of their investigations.

Murcia Town Hall have issued a statement saying that they are complying with requests for information and have provided all documentation as requested. The development in question was ratified in 2006 and there is no question of irregularities.

They are under secrecy legislation as dictated by the investigating court, and are collaborating fully with the investigating body to clear up any uncertainty about the procedures followed.

 Madrid, Home and Offices of Jesus Samper, Paramount Theme Park Licensee raided

According to Europa Press, police also visited the Madrid office and home of Jesus Samper, President of the Real Murcia  football club and the developer of the Nuevo Condomina, the man who is currently spearheading the Paramount theme park project in Murcia, removing paperwork and documentation. 

This may have implications for the funding of the future Paramount project, so is a situation which should be taken into consideration when considering investment opportunities, although the companies are different legal entities altogether.

Jesus Samper is involved in a number of businesses and enterprises, each a separate legal entity and will undoubtedly contest that the businesses have no relationship with each other in any way, shape or form. 

There are hundreds of alleged corruption cases such as this one under investigation, or concluded throughout Spain.

In big business anywhere in the world there is always a degree of knowing the right people, but Spain has been particularly damaged by the lack of control which proliferated during the construction boom years and which caused untold damage to its international reputation.

Lets just hope the whiff of scandal by association doesnt taint this particular project.

Paramount Theme Park Murcia

 The full story of the project including present day status can be found by using the link to the history of the Paramount Theme Park Murcia