A judge in Palma has imposed bail of three million euros upon former Balearic President Jaume Matas Palou. This represents the highest bail imposition ever on a Balearic politician. The former Partido Popular politician served two terms as President of the Balearics from 1996-1999 and 2003-2007, he was also Environment Minister in Aznar's Spanish Government. Matas has until midnight tonight to pay the three million euros.
He is accused of falsifying an official document; corrupt practice; fraud; embezzlement; money laundering; and electoral malpractice. The combination of charges could lead to a long prison sentence.
Palma Arena
One specific matter in which he is being investigated is the "Palma Arena" case: the construction of a velodrome that originally was going to cost 48 million euros, but finally cost 100 million euros. This overspending was parallel to the increase in the assets of Jaume Matas which rose dramatically. A luxury apartment in Madrid, a manor house in the old town of Palma, known as "the palace" and the complete renovation of the latter, immediately raised suspicions that the cost of construction of the velodrome was actually being diverted.
This accusation followed a denunciation by a private individual who claimed that the former politician's lifestyle was inconsistent with his declared income.
Judge José Castro criticised Matas for leaving questions unanswered during the many hours of the accused's declaration. The judge went on to say that "it is clear that Sr. Matas has been making fun of mere mortals". Under the judge's ruling Matas has had his passport withdrawn to prevent his return to the United States, where he has been living since 2008. He has also been ordered to present himself at the court in Palma on the first and fifteenth of the month and at any other time that he is summoned. The court has also taken action against his brother, Fernando Areal, former treasurer of the Balearic PP, who will also be obliged to make twice monthly appearances at court.
Investigation began in 2008
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office opened a case against the government headed by Jaume Matas in August 2008 for embezzlement , bribery and unlawful acts committed by public officials , with five people arrested following a complaint lodged by the current Balearic government President, Francesc Antich, after an audit of accounts.
In the garden of the house of the former manager of the Partnership for Economic Development of the Balearic Islands, Antònia Ordinas, 240,000 euros were found buried. This money was attributed by the police to be income from bribes.
The traditional hanging of and burning of ten labelled effigies in Ciutadella on Easter Sunday, "la matança dels deu bujots penjats", featured an effigy of Matas, with banknotes in his hands and in his pockets.