A Spanish prosecutor is seeking hefty prison sentences in a high-profile trial involving numerous officials accused of paying bribes to secure major contracts in Algeria during the presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Among the defendants are two former Spanish People’s Party deputies, one of whom previously served as an ambassador.
The investigation, spanning over a decade, centers on Spanish companies securing lucrative projects in Algeria, including the Ouargla tramway in 2014 and a seawater desalination plant in Tlemcen in 2009. According to Spanish media outlets like Cadena SER and Público, prosecutor Santiago Pedraz of the National Court decided to proceed with the trial after a decade-long probe that nearly expired due to the statute of limitations.
Key Defendants and Charges
The trial targets former deputies Pedro Gómez de la Serna and Gustavo de Arístegui, a former ambassador to India, alongside 21 other defendants, including intermediaries, administrators of five companies, and Swiss and Dutch managers accused of money laundering. The prosecutor is seeking 18-year prison sentences for the two ex-deputies for bribery in Algeria. Their law firm, Voltar Lassen, allegedly secured public contracts for the Basque company Elecnor by bribing Algerian officials. The scandal broke in 2015.
In addition to the 18-year sentences, the prosecution has requested fines totaling €720,000 and the seizure of €2.64 million from two companies established by the former deputies, through which they allegedly collected commissions from client firms. The accused face charges of corporate corruption, passive corruption, document forgery, criminal organization, and illicit association. Harsher 21-year sentences are sought for two Elecnor executives and several other defendants.
Corporate Involvement and Major Projects
Five companies are also implicated: Elecnor and its subsidiary Internacional de Desarrollo Energético SA, Rover Alcisa, Assignia Infraestructuras, and AS Auditoría & Consulting Navarra SL. The prosecution is seeking substantial fines, including €36.7 million against Elecnor. In 2013, Elecnor, along with two other prosecuted firms, formed a temporary joint venture called ETM, which won a €230 million contract for the Ouargla tramway after allegedly paying €850,000 to the project’s overseer, according to Público. The bribes were reportedly funneled through Dubai-based companies.
Another tainted deal involved the €250 million Souk Tleta desalination plant in Tlemcen, awarded in 2009. The contract was allegedly secured by purchasing overseas villas for several Algerian officials at the time.
International Scope of Investigation
The probe involved international cooperation, with rogatory commissions sent to Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the UK, Belgium, China, Hong Kong, the UAE, Morocco, Algeria, and France.
