Murcia Corruption scandal: Former Mayor & Top Aide Sentenced in ‘Punic’ Case
Murcia, spain – After a decade-long inquiry dubbed “Operation Punic,” a Spanish court has delivered guilty verdicts to key figures involved in a major corruption scandal that rocked the murcia region. juan Carlos Ruiz, former mayor of Cartagena and previously Director of Industry and Tourism for Murcia, along with his chief of cabinet, José Fidel Saura, were each sentenced to four years in prison on charges of fraud and bribery.
The National CourtS ruling, reported by La Verdad newspaper, marks a significant turning point in the case which first came to light ten years ago. The investigation centered on allegations of illicit dealings impacting the region’s governance.
Alongside Ruiz and Saura, several other individuals received sentences. Agustín Alonso, brother of the former Cartagena mayor, and jesús Norberto Galindo, secretary of the Tourism Institute, were each sentenced to one year in prison for fraud and aiding and abetting the fraudulent activity. Francisco Javier Bueno and Sara Gargallo, employees of the company Eico (linked to De Pedro), received six-month prison sentences as accomplices to the fraud.
in addition to the prison terms, Ruiz, Saura, the former first mayor of cartagena, the former director of the tourism Institute, Galindo, and Alonso have been disqualified from holding public office for seven years due to charges of administrative malfeasance.
“Operation Punic” has been a closely watched case in Spain, highlighting concerns about corruption within regional politics. This verdict represents a major step towards