Trial over People's Party cash-for-favors scandal begins in Spain

A corruption trial over an alleged cash-for-favors scandal of the People's Party (PP) in Spain got underway Tuesday.

A total of 37 people are in the dock for the so-called Gurtel trial, which involves wide-ranging allegation of cash for favors over a period from 1999-2005.

State prosecutors have asked for sentences totaling 732 years for the defendants, including 132 for Francisco Correa, considered the head of the organization.

Correa is accused of bribing regional politicians (mainly PP in the regions of Valencia and Madrid) in exchange for that his companies or those of his companions begin could be granted public works contracts.

Correa has said he would reveal all he knows in order to have his sentence reduced.

Prosecutors have also asked for 42 years in jail for former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas, who is accused of hiding millions of euros from the scandal in Swiss bank accounts, as well as running a parallel accounting system at the party and making cash payments to high-ranking party officials.

Although the PP faces no criminal charges itself, the party has been called to testify for allegedly benefiting from funds received through illegal means.

The Gurtel case claimed an early victim in 2014 after Ana Mato, former PP minister for health, was forced to resign after being accused of benefiting from bribes paid to her former husband Jesus Sepulveda, former PP mayor of the town of Pozuelo de Alarcon.

The trial is expected to last several months. Endit