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Spanish Supreme Court to investigate former Valencia Mayor for alleged money laundering

Xinhua, September 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Spanish Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed that it will be opening an investigation into Rita Barbara, the former Mayor of Valencia for alleged money laundering.

The investigation is linked to a probe named Operation Taula, which saw members of the right wing People's Party accused of the illegal financing of the party through the use of money collected through various "cash for favors" corruption scandals, during Barbara's period as Mayor between 1991 and 2015.

"The court declares itself competent to investigate and, if necessary, try Maria Rita Barbera Nolla, for the crime of laundering money," said the Supreme Court ruling

The ruling added that "conducts designed to illicitly destine public money to ends which are different from those of the administration" had taken place.

Barbara, who remains a Senator for the right wing People's Party, lost her position as Mayor in the 2015 local elections after 24 years in office, but her position in the Spanish Senate means she could only be indicted by the Supreme Court and not by a normal court as the other 49 PP members currently under investigation in the case. Endit