Rodrigo Rato, investigated for alleged money laundering – The Economist

This is new research that adds to the case of Bankia and Caja Madrid.

Rato is being investigated for alleged fraud, concealment of assets and money laundering. Photo: Reuters

The former economy minister was released after the Office of Madrid asked the judge number 35 of Madrid to lift its When conclude detention records, so Rato not had to go to court after being arrested Thursday at his domicilio.Según sources close to the investigation, the judge summoned to testify, if deemed appropriate, according to advance their research .

It all started when the Tax Agency inspectors arrested at her home to former Vice President of the Spanish government Rodrigo Rato. The arrest came after a search of his home by order of the prosecutor. A Rato, together with others not yet identified, is accused of an alleged crime of fraud, concealment of assets and money laundering. Former Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged that the tax amnesty filed.

Rato was brought to his office at 50th Street Castelló de Madrid to continue to records by the police. The agents sealed windows on the ground floor of the building.

In parallel, the Customs Surveillance Service recorded a law firm in Sotogrande, San Roque (Cádiz), as part of the investigation. Sources familiar with the investigation confirmed to Europa Press that several officers conducted a search at the law firm Plaza, which seized “documents and computers.”

The above sources pointed out that the aim is to find out if relations between the said law and Rodrigo Rato “have to do or not” with research that is developing on it for alleged fraud, concealment of assets and money laundering.

The magistrate No. 35 Madrid ordered the entry with “immediate” nature of the housing register after admitting to hear a complaint filed by the Prosecutor urges investigated for alleged fraud, concealment of assets and money laundering.

In the complaint “immediate entry and search” at the home of Rato, agreed by the investigating magistrate on duty this week in Madrid, the number 35. The Court also ordered the secrecy of the proceedings.

Although the performances are rooted in the investigation started a few days ago by the Office of Madrid, the cause will continue to process expected in the coming days under the direction of the anti-corruption prosecutor, the sources said.

The registration was conducted by agents of the Tax Agency and may be related to the research conducted to Rato by the Executive Service for the Prevention and Money Laundering (Sepblac) for a possible offense of money laundering after benefit from the tax amnesty.

Multiple investigations

Rato is already charged by Judge Fernando Andreu of the National Court, in the case of merger and IPO of Bankia. Also, he is being investigated in separate piece that calls “cards black” in which the former directors of Bankia and Caja Madrid loaded 15.5 million euros are analyzed, reported legal sources.

Also Rato appears in suits brought by UPyD and Clean Hands regarding bonuses they would have received executives of Caja de Madrid during the presidencies of Miguel Blesa and Rodrigo Rato.

The Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (FROB) put inform the prosecutor this practice allegedly irregular, and the Public Ministry initiated the investigation into an organ of Madrid without instructions by the time the matter has advanced.

In parallel, Santiago Menéndez, director of the Tax Agency on Tuesday to attend the Finance Committee of Congress to report on the fight against fiscal fraud, an appearance that the government pushed come to light after the investigation against Rodrigo Rato.

The IMF prevents an opinion

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) remained silent about the arrest in Spain of Rodrigo Rato, former manager of the agency, on charges of fraud, concealment of assets and money laundering.

Spokesmen for the institution consulted by Notimex emphasized the fact that Rato left the institution almost eight years ago after having served from June 2004 to October 2007.

The clarification seek to explain why the IMF did have an official reaction after the arrest in New York in 2011 by the then managing director Dominique Strauss Kahn on charges of rape.

Rato was arrested Thursday in Spain after a raid on his home by personnel of the Tax Agency.

After learning of the arrest of Rato, Rafael Hernando, parliamentary spokesman for the ruling Popular Party (PP) -Institute to the detainee, belongs, indicated that this “is very hard for all” (in conservative training).

Antonio Hernando, spokesman for the opposition Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), meanwhile asked for urgent hearing of President Mariano Rajoy in the chamber and the PP to allow the creation of a Commission of Inquiry tax amnesty in 2012. (With information from Notimex)