The four people who declared last Wednesday as being investigated in the Bateragune case were: In the 2011-2015 legislature, the mayor of Alonsotegi was José Luis Erezuma, the priest Juan Torrontegi, the municipal architect Marta Novo and the architect Alberto Zulueta. The fourth Barakaldo Court of Instruction (Bizkaia) investigates the completion or not of works to repair the damage caused by torrential rains in 2012 by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. As Naiz gathers, the statements made it clear that the works were paid, but they were not done.

Mayor's account

The Erezuma related what happened to the debt contracted by the City Council with the construction company Laneder and the economic problems of the company. The company Laneder stated that it was about to be seized, among other reasons for the EUR 1.6 million owed to it by the City Council. To pay off some of these debts, they decided to use the special item that the Deputy has for “surprises”. The City Council requested three aid to deal with the alleged damage caused by torrential rains: 228,969,15 euros for the construction of flood repairs of the basements of the City Hall; 272,973,01 and 116,172,86 euros for the construction of support walls in the Health Center and the Elkartegi Association. Total EUR 618,115,02. The Member accepted the request.

According to the former mayor, the council had advanced 600,000 euros to the company Laneder, and hoped that Laneder would do those works in the future. In any case, various reports and certifications were drafted to certify the performance of these works.

False documents

In addition to the former mayor, three other persons were called to testify in the Barakaldo (Bizkaia) court as investigators. Matador Juan Torrontegi admitted that he has not rectified any work, but made the corresponding invoice and charged 12,985,61 euros. The municipal architect, Marta Novo, indicated that she had been commissioned to produce a report that would guarantee the good condition of the supporting walls. He did the report, but he did not even see the work. The Novo report was based on a technical report prepared by the architect Alberto Zulueta. Zulueta, the fourth person who was called to testify, was the only one who exercised his right not to testify before the judge. His company charged EUR 51,942.44 for unexecuted works.

Three former mayors of Alonsotegi in the courts

The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bizkaia charges the former mayor of Alonsotegi and five other persons with the crimes of fraud, embezzlement of public flows, prevarication and falsehood in an official document for these facts. This is not the only case. In July 2018, Barakaldo tried two other former mayors from Alonsotegi – Gabino Martínez de Arenaza and Aitor Santiesteban, both from the PNV – and six others, following a complaint by EH Bildu in 2014. The court accuses them of the offences of misappropriation of public funds, fraud and the exercise of office in their personal interest.