Swiss authorities have opened a money laundering investigation into a former treasurer of Spain’s ruling party suspected of depositing millions of euros from bribes in Swiss bank accounts, the Geneva prosecutor handling the case said on Monday.
Luis Barcenas, accused by Spanish authorities of abusing his position to secure bribes, evading taxes and laundering money, is at the heart of a growing corruption scandal that has hurt the conservative People’s Party and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Spanish court proceedings indicate that Barcenas, who stepped down as party treasurer in 2009, held up to 38 million euros ($50 million) in Swiss bank accounts.
“If the suspicions of money laundering are confirmed, if bribes were paid, we will confiscate the money and then we will discuss (with Spain) what happens to it,” prosecutor Jean-Bernard Schmid said.
He added the investigation would focus on examining the bank accounts in more detail and checking the origins of the funds.
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