Searches at the offices of the construction company Benito Arnó e Hijos
The authorities have carried out searches at the offices of the construction company Benito Arnó e Hijos, based in Lleida and Barcelona, as part of the investigation into the ambulance case. This action has been carried out in relation to alleged irregularities in the bidding, awarding and contracting of the 2015 public tender for the management of ambulance transport services throughout Catalonia, which was won by the UTE (Temporary Union of Companies) Egara . The general manager of this construction company, Joan Albert Arqués Fontdevila, has been charged by the head of the central court of inquiry 5 of the National Court, along with seven other businessmen.
Research in progress
The investigation is ongoing and is related to the case of the ambulances, where the businessman and former director of the CDC, David Madí, is also involved. This investigation is being led by the anti-corruption prosecutor José Grinda, who has requested the searches in relation to a piece of the ambulance case, which magistrate Santiago Pedraz has approved and decreed summary secrecy.
Adjudication Under Suspicion
In 2015, the UTE Ambulances Egara obtained the medical transport for all of Catalonia, and the National Court is investigating whether this public award, made in 2014, was done irregularly by the Generalitat. The owner of Egara Ambulances, Oscar Simón, has declared to the judge about the possible involvement of David Madí and others investigated in this adjudication.
Statements by David Madí
David Madí, businessman and former director of CDC, has denied the statements of the Civil Guard about his involvement in the reports, assuring that there is false information in the report of the Civil Guard and the Mossos d’Esquadra. Madí has stated that the e-mail that incriminates him in this case is false and maintains that the author is an alleged computer engineer from the intelligence services who has infiltrated the Generalitat.
Joint Research
Both the Catalan police and the Civil Guard are jointly carrying out the investigation on behalf of the National Court, with the impetus of the Anticorruption Prosecutor.
Details of the Searches
For now, no further details have been released about the searches that agents of the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Civil Guard are carrying out at the construction company’s offices in Lleida and Barcelona and what information is being sought.