The former President of the Government José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has allegedly been summoned as an investigated party by the National High Court for an alleged crime of money laundering within the framework of the Plus Ultra case, according to what El Confidencial publishes this Tuesday.
The information indicates that the decision would have been made by the magistrate José Luis Calama, head of Central Investigating Court number 4 of the National High Court, within the proceedings linked to the rescue of 53 million euros granted by the Government to the airline Plus Ultra in 2021.
The case investigates the alleged irregular use of these public funds and a supposed money laundering scheme related to the company, its directors, and people in its business circle. Other media had reported in recent days that the UDEF was tracking payments received by Zapatero and companies linked to his family, although the former president has denied irregularities in his public statements.
The UDEF launches a new operation
According to the same information, the Economic and Fiscal Crimes Unit of the National Police has launched a new operation this Tuesday within the investigations of the Plus Ultra case.
The inquiries point to the alleged collection of illegal commissions and the supposed laundering of funds through individuals and companies close to the former president. The investigation also analyzes the role of Análisis Relevante SL, a company linked to the businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, a friend of Zapatero and investigated in the case.
According to previously published information, the UDEF would have detected payments from that company to Zapatero and companies linked to his daughters for consulting and online communication work. El País published last week that the case remained under judicial secrecy and that the judge had relaxed precautionary measures for several investigated parties, considering the risk of flight to be reduced.
The Plus Ultra case and the 53 million euro rescue
The origin of the proceedings lies in the public rescue granted to Plus Ultra in March 2021. The company received 53 million euros from the fund to support strategic companies affected by the pandemic.
The judicial investigation analyzes whether part of that money could have been used for purposes other than those intended and whether the airline or its associates participated in money laundering operations. El Confidencial had already published in March that the Prosecutor's Office pointed to the alleged misuse of those funds and a possible money laundering structure linked to foreign capital. Among those investigated are businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, the president of Plus Ultra, Julio Martínez Sola, the airline's CEO, Roberto Roselli, and others involved in the case.
Zapatero has denied irregularities
Zapatero has defended in his public appearances that his consulting work was legal and has denied having intervened in the rescue of Plus Ultra. He has also rejected having alerted any businessman to judicial investigations and has attributed the accusations to a smear campaign.
The summons as investigated, if officially confirmed, would open an unprecedented judicial scenario for a former President of the Government in a case linked to corruption and money laundering.