Beatriz G. Paesa confirms the delivery of 600,000 euros to Luxembourg
Beatriz García Paesa, a relative of the spy known for the ‘Roldán case’, has corroborated that Juan Cotino personally handed him 600,000 euros in cash when he was Director General of the Police with the PP Government of José María Aznar. This testimony was made by video conference from Luxembourg, where Paesa explained the social structure that was established in this country for the Cotino family. It should be noted that Paesa only met Cotino personally on one occasion, when he delivered the funds that were used to provide capital to one of the companies. The usual management was the responsibility of Vicente Cotino, nephew of Juan Cotino and then general director of the Police.
The details of the operation and the changes in the companies
According to Paesa, the banks did not ask more questions than necessary, since they knew the identity of the client and knew that the money left Spain legally. However, the lawyer has remarked that since then the legislation has changed significantly. Paesa, specialized in domiciliation of offshore companies and tax law, has been imputed in the ‘Defex case’ in the National Court, but collaborated with the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office and came out unscathed in the ‘Erial case’ (https: //www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The role of Vicente Cotino in Luxembourg societies
Vicente Cotino served as sole administrator and proxy for the Luxembourg companies. Cotino traveled to Luxembourg once or twice a year, accompanied by Sedesa’s financial director, José Vicente Álvarez, to manage the funds. According to Paesa, this collaboration was a great opportunity for them. In 2005 or 2006, Paesa was informed of a change of shareholders in the two companies, which became the property of Joaquín Barceló ‘Pachano’, Zaplana’s confessed frontman, and Juan Francisco García, chief of staff of Zaplana Paesa detailed that Vicente Cotino explained this change of ownership to him.
Management in Spain and the role of Francisco Grau
In Spain, the arrangements were made by Francisco Grau, Zaplana’s tax advisor and also accused in this case. Paesa added that Grau was taking care of his tasks in Spain. It should be noted that Paesa denied knowing Eduardo Zaplana personally and that his name was never mentioned by the auditors. However, he explained that he got in touch with Fernando Belhot, who already knew Zaplana. Paesa claimed that Grau was no longer involved in the case when Belhot entered the scene. With the arrival of this Uruguayan lawyer, who has confessed to being a money launderer, the funds were moved from Luxembourg to other destinations such as Andorra or Panama, in a second phase of the alleged corrupt plot (https://www. softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The importance of trust in Paesa’s work
Paesa emphasized that trust with the client is fundamental in his work. In Luxembourg, they have the power to domiciliate financial companies, and clients rely on them for this task. Paesa remarked that this trust is the basis of his work.
The Legal Implications and Statements Above
Paesa’s statements confirm the accusations against Zaplana. During the investigation phase of the ‘Erial case’, the rogatory commission of Luxembourg already confirmed that Juan Cotino paid more than 600,000 euros to the Grand Duchy for the creation of the two companies. Vicente Cotino confessed during the trial that it was his uncle who organized the operation for the award to Sedesa of the ITV lot, with which the family company obtained a capital gain of 43 million euros . Juan Francisco García, Zaplana’s former chief of staff, also assured that Juan Cotino proposed the operation. In addition, Pachano confessed that he was acting as Zaplana’s front man. To complete the picture, the Uruguayan lawyer Fernando Belhot explained the details of the plot (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
