New corruption trial in Spain: ex-minister faces serious charges

Jan 9, 2012, 12:18 GMT

Palma de Majorca, Spain - A former Spanish minister went on trial Monday in one of the country's biggest political corruption scandals in recent history.

Former federal environment minister and former Balearic Islands regional prime minister Jaume Matas, 57, is suspected of a string of corruption-related offences including embezzlement, peddling of political favours, fraud and falsifying documents.

The trial was the first among a string of expected upcoming trials.

Prosecutors were requesting an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Matas, who was charged with illegally paying more than 480,000 euros (609,600 dollars) to his speechwriter - also among the total of six accused - from Balearic Islands' public coffers.

Matas was environment minister from 2000 to 2003 in the government of then prime minister Jose Maria Aznar.

He then governed the Balearic Islands - a popular tourist destination - as regional prime minister from 2003 to 2007, a period during which he is suspected of illegally amassing a fortune.

The charges against Matas are partly related to the construction of the Palma Arena sports complex, the final cost of which - 100 million euros - turned out to be double initial estimates.

About 50 people booed Matas as he arrived in court in the Majorca capital of Palma, calling him a 'thief.'

The corruption accusations against Matas also involve Inaki Urdangarin, husband of King Juan Carlos' daughter Cristina, who faces a separate investigation into his alleged corrupt business deals on the Balearic Islands. The Spanish royal family has tried to protect its reputation by distancing itself from Urdangarin.

Matas is the eighth regional prime minister to face trial since Spain became a democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. Another trial is currently running against Francisco Camps, former prime minister of the eastern region of Valencia, who has been charged with taking bribes.