Although the so-called ‘Barçagate case’ broke out in February 2020, three and a half years later, and while another matter such as the ‘Negreira case’ continues to be investigated, that scandal in which the previous government of Josep Maria Bartomeu was involved in Barcelona continues its course in the courts.
After this week the ‘Què t’hi jugues’ program revealed a report delivered by the Mossos d’Esquadra in the Investigating Court number 13 in which the Catalan police concluded that the former Barça president had diverted money from the club for personal purposes through an external company, Amalgama, Bartomeu himself has tried to react. First, with a statement of allegations. Later, charging against the Mossos, whom he accuses of issuing “partial and biased reporting”. “They only try to discredit me,” he cries in statements collected by EL PERIÓDICO.
“It is evident that, since the beginning of the case, in 2020, the actions of the police force have only responded to the commitment of discrediting me without repairing in going beyond the legal limits that I should fulfill & rdquor;, says Bartomeu, which affects that said report“ is completely out of the constitutional channels because it is a prospective investigation, that is, without judicial authorization and alien to the specific cause that motivated in its day Telephone tros (…). The Mossos systematically transgress the constitutional mandate to adhere to the limitation of their functions when he intervenes under the judicial authority & rdquor ;.
The Mossos focused on their report on the company Amalgama Marketing, whose owner is miquel sambola, whom the police place as a personal friend of Bartomeu. From here, the security forces consider that the contractual relationship (84,000 euros per year) had nothing to do with the professional services to be provided, but with “a platform for the diversion of money from Barcelona for the personal interest of Bartomeu”. Specifically, to pay third parties and journalists.
“Police force claim that is adjusted to assess concrete facts and not behaviors or ways of life. His claim to examine without any limit any of the decisions of an economic nature that have been made during my presidency is inadmissible,” complains Bartomeu, who opens the range of suspicion: “The fact that, as is public and notorious, there are several people in charge of the Mossos d’Esquadra who, having requested leave, have been hired by the security area of FC Barcelona, are dismissed after a while, presumably with the corresponding compensation, to reinstate them.” to re-incorporate within the body. This situation generates, at least, suspicions and misgivings.”
Referring to the company Amalgama, Bartomeu argues that it was hired “on time, like many others in the sector”. “It is a story riddled with falsehoods, such as that it had been used to pay journalists or businessmen with the sole purpose of benefiting my public image& rdquor ;.
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The Mossos stressed in their report that Miquel Sambola’s brother (Óscar Sambola) and father (Miquel Sambola Puebla) are manager and honorary president of Club Esportiu Laietà. In its day, said entity charged 1.5 million euros for alleged inconvenience, sound or of any kind, that could be caused by the demolition of the Miniestadi.
Meanwhile, the reports of the Mossos piling up and the judge Alejandra Gil tries to order each one of the allegations in a biblical summary.