- In April of last year, Macarena Olona, a state lawyer and port consultant, denounced to the prosecutor’s office the case of possible corruption in the construction of the Pasaia Port Parade. Investigations into corruption cases in ten other ports are also in force at the national level.
It found that there was a diversion of 4.9 million euros. The construction of the estate began in 2011, and although the works initially had to last 26 months, they are not yet finished. During this time, the builders have indicated overruns of 32%.
Already in 2012 the engineering firm Idom warned of “constant” budget changes, all rising. Olona says that the investigation must decide whether these increases are due to the intrigues made to enrich the construction companies and the port staff. Olona, who last year made several internal complaints to the port’s board of directors and only received support from the LAB, forwarded the case to the prosecutor.
Prosecutor Mercedes Bautista filed a complaint with the courts and the Guardia Civil initiated an investigation. At the moment, the former director of the Port, Gregorio Irigoyen, the head of the works, David Candelario, and the construction companies —FCC and Lurgoien— are at the point of investigation. The study also indicates the intention to analyze the performance of the director of the port authority, Ricardo Peña. At the same time, the case has also been examined by the Spanish Court of Auditors.
No clear future
In recent months there has been controversy regarding the audit of the works. Olona advised to go to three “big ones” in the area to carry out this activity, but Peña gave the job to a company here, Ingeniería Salaberria. The media has been told Eldiario.es that this assignment is a personal decision at will. For its part, the Spanish State has assigned a parallel audit to Intemac, a company involved in a corruption case in the port of Barcelona.
Internal sources have expressed concern to the media, perceiving that the audits carried out by this company will downplay the facts.
The case does not have a clear future. While the local prosecutor’s office and the state attorney have denounced the case from criminal law, their colleagues at the state level have requested that it be filed with the Court of Auditors in the context of ten other ongoing corruption cases.