The former director of the IMF, Rodrigo Rato Spanish is escorted by police April 16, 2015 at the exit his home in Madrid (AFP / JAVIER SORIANO)
The former Spanish head of the IMF Rodrigo Rato, already charged in two malpractice business in Spain, is again in the eye of cyclone with an investigation for money laundering which led Customs to search his home in Madrid Thursday.
On Thursday night, the media were broadcasting the spectacular image of the old favorite of the Spanish right in rushing police car, followed by a police ostensibly supporting the palm of his hand on his neck, as if he forced him to settle there.
This image was shot while former Economy Minister (1996-2004) left his home to go to his office where another search was to take place. However, no judicial source has confirmed to AFP his eventual arrest.
A little after midnight, the search of his office was completed and the former IMF chief (2004-2007) returned home, according to television images that followed. However, it was not to be then subject to custody, according to judicial sources.
These searches were conducted as part of a new survey on application of the prosecutor, for ” laundering, fraud and concealment of assets, “he told AFP a source close to the investigation.
For two days, the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy (People’s Party, right) refuses to confirm press reports that Mr Rato is suspected of money laundering.
Asked about the search customs officers at Madrid home of Mr. Rato, a Treasury spokesman s’ merely stated that the operation was carried out “at the request of the prosecutor.”
The press reported a survey including 6.2 million Rodrigo Rato has affected the Lazard in 2011. He explained exercising of stock options received in 2008.
Excluded from the ranks of the Popular Party, Rodrigo Rato has already been prosecuted in two other cases. He was charged for acts of fraud (s), embezzlement and false accounting committed during the IPO in 2011 of Bankia bank he headed from 2010 to 2012.
This bank was close to bankruptcy, ruining hundreds of thousands of small shareholders and the government had to nationalize injecting more than € 20 billion in 2012. That fiasco had precipitated a European rescue industry Spanish banks 41.4 billion euros, half of which for this property.
Rodrigo Rato, Minister of Economy of the government of Jose Maria Aznar from 1996 to 2004 before heading the International Monetary Fund (IMF) until 2007, was considered one of the most promising politicians of his generation before these scandals.
It is also indicted for alleged fraudulent use of bank cards Caja Madrid , one of the savings banks that formed Bankia.
These cards ‘black’ was used without any control by Caja Madrid leaders for their personal expenses, such as African safaris or luxury product purchases, according to the release.
While refusing to comment on the new investigation Rodrigo Rato, the PP argued that fight against corruption. This matter unworthy the public in an election year, to nearly a month of municipal and regional elections on May 24 and November legislative approach.
The Minister of Justice Rafael Catala insists always the same message: the search is “proof that the system works, that judges and prosecutors are investigating, that the law is applied, and ensuring that the law is the same for all”
For his part, the leader of the socialist opposition, Pedro Sanchez, denounced on his Twitter account a “scandal.” The head of government Mariano “Rajoy must provide explanations and (Minister Cristobal Finance) Montoro must resign,” he has written, as demanding a parliamentary inquiry.
The business of corruption threaten the PP as PSOE, having encouraged the emergence of two new political options whose image is not tarnished by the business: the anti-liberal party Podemos far left and Ciudadanos, in the downtown law.
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