Spanish PM asks to testify by videoconference in corruption case: reports

Spanish Prime Minister has asked to be allowed to make his testimony in the ongoing "Gurtel" corruption scandal by videoconference on either July 26 or 27, the Spanish press reported.

Rajoy has been called to appear as a witness in the trial, which is investigating "cash-for-favors" deals involving construction and event organization deals and which is linked to the illegal financing of his right wing Peoples Party (PP).

The secretary general to the Prime Minister's Office, Maria Rosario Pablos, has written to the Spanish High Court signaling the 26th and 27th of July as the "most appropriate dates" bearing in mind the Prime Minister's agenda.

Spanish law allows Rajoy to give his evidence by videoconference rather than in person because of "reasons of utility, security and public order," The Prime Minister's office believes it is better for Rajoy to give his evidence over a TV screen rather than in person in the courtroom in San Fernando de Henares (on the outskirts of Madrid) as Rajoy's travelling to the courtroom would "imply an important displacement of public resources."

The news comes out on the same day that an investigation by the Spanish Civil Guard into another corruption scandal known as "Operation Punica" concluded that the Madrid branch of the PP covered some of the expenses of Rajoy's 2008 general election campaign with public money through the production of false bills for training courses which were never held. Endit