Main phase of the “Mediator” case concludes with 23 people investigated

The judicial order, made public on Thursday and opening the path to an oral trial, states that the investigated facts could constitute criminal offenses.

Magistrate María de los Ángeles Farizo of the Fourth Investigation Court in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has finished the instruction phase of the main piece of the “Mediator case,” involving a total of 23 people under investigation.

Alleged offences

The order indicates that the conduct under investigation may amount to:

Bribery (cohecho)
Embezzlement (malversación)
Prevarication (prevaricación)
Influence peddling (tráfico de influencias)
Crimes against the Public Administration
Fraud (estafa)
Falsification (falsedad)
Money laundering (blanqueo de capitales)
Offences against the Public Treasury (contra la Hacienda Pública)

Individuals under investigation

First group

Mediator Marco Antonio Navarro
Former Socialist deputy Juan Bernardo Fuentes
Former Director General of Livestock for the Canary Islands Government, Taishet Fuentes
Retired Civil Guard General Francisco Espinosa
Ten additional persons

These individuals are being investigated for alleged bribery, embezzlement, prevarication, influence peddling, offences against the public administration, fraud and falsification.

Second group

Former Deputy Counselor for Primary Sector of the Canary Islands Government, Álvaro de la Bárcena
Former Director General of the Fight Against Climate Change for the Canary Islands Government, José Domingo Fernández
Four additional persons

They are suspected of prevarication, influence peddling, offences against the public administration, or embezzlement of public funds.

Third group

Navarro Tacoronte and five other persons are investigated for money laundering.
One additional individual is investigated for an alleged offence against the public treasury.

Recent developments

The first piece of the “Mediator case” was tried a few weeks ago before the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The jury found General Espinosa, Navarro Tacoronte, and businessman Antonio Bautista guilty of a bribery offence linked to kick‑backs for securing solar‑panel contracts.