The case of ‘De Miguel’ is one of the largest cases of fraud in the Basque Country. The former Local Administration Deputy of the Provincial Council of Álava Alfredo De Miguel and 25 others have been charged for illegal commission and fraud in urban operations carried out by the Foral Police. The 26 defendants began to testify on Monday, but the chief prosecutor, Josu Izagirre, called for the suspension of the trial to try to reach an agreement with the defenses.
The Diario.es has reported that De Miguel’s lawyer, Gonzalo Susaeta, and other lawyers, refuse to negotiate with the prosecutor’s office, although they have not confirmed their position. Vice Counsellor's lawyer, Gurutz Larrañaga, added that if there is not "much news", it is a trial without agreement and will seek the acquittal of the judgment.
The trial is long. It started in January and the declaration phase was due to end in October, but following the interventions of 150 witnesses and 20 experts, it will not be closed until at least the end of November.
The defendants include the following: Among them, the former members of the Araba Buru Batzar Alfredo De Miguel, Aitor Telleria and Koldo Otxandiano, the former Vice-Minister of Culture of the Basque Government Gurutz Larrañaga, the former head of the CAV technology parks network Julián Sánchez Alegría and the former Mayor of Zambrana, María.