Spanish Police have raided government offices in 13 provinces as part of a crackdown on corruption.
Tuesday’s operation was mainly conducted in the Andalusia region in the south of the country, but offices in Barcelona and the Canary Islands were also involved.
Judge Mercedes Alaya is heading the investigation which has been going on since June. Around 30 people were arrested.
Andalusia government spokesman,Miguel Ángel Vázquez said:
“In this case it seems that suspects are limited to the sphere of officials, public servants, but at any level those who are guilty must be punished.”
Last month police arrested more than fifty people in similar raids in and around the capital Madrid.
It is alleged that individuals at all levels from town halls to politicians, civil servants and businessmen have been taking kickbacks from private companies to win contracts.
On October 27 a statement by the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office said:
“The collusion between local councillors and civil servants, with builders and energy service companies, and the corruption of middle-men and key companies, has helped them to secure contracts worth around 250 million euros in the last two years alone.”
Tuesdays operation is the latest linked to a string of corruption scandals that have hit Spain’s political parties, banks, football clubs and even members of the royal family.
