Alberto Luceño and Luis Medina said they wanted to do their part during the pandemic. During the first wave of the corona crisis, when hundreds of Spaniards died every day from the effects of the virus, they signed a contract for the purchase of one million FFP2 masks worth 6.6 million euros and 250,000 self-tests for 4.2 million euros.
But the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses them two years later of doing this simply because of “exaggerated and unjust economic advantages.” Philanthropist businessman Luceno received 5 million euros in commission for the face mask deal and Medina, the youngest son of former top model Naty Abascal and former duke Rafael Medina, 1 million. With this money they bought twelve luxury cars, including a Lamborghini and a Ferrari, Rolex watches, a yacht and an apartment building just outside the capital. Luceño spent 60,000 euros on hotel costs in Marbella in six days. Medina invested four tons in bonds.
Title and status
According to detectives leading the corruption investigation, the pair contacted a high-ranking official at the Madrid City Council in March 2020. This was done by Medina, who took advantage of his title and status as a well-known figure. He contacted the nephew of Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, lawyer Carlos Martínez-Almeida, who allegedly acted as a mediator between the two men and the municipality.
Medina said he and Luceno were in contact with an Asian company that could help them with masks, among other things. At that time, such sanitary items were hard to come by worldwide. The municipality discussed the story of the two men and concluded a contract with the company Leno, based in Malaysia.
Also read: Spanish opposition leader Casado resigns after face mask riot
The Public Prosecution Service started an investigation into the duo in November 2020. This investigation, conducted by an anti-corruption agency, coincides with an earlier mask scandal involving the brother of Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso (Popular Party). He is said to have received a commission of almost three tons from the Madrid municipality for his role as a mediator between Madrid and a company that supplied mouth masks.
‘No idea’
Madrid’s mayor Martínez-Almeida (Popular Party) said he had “no idea” that his cousin was acting as a mediator. “I think it’s outrageous what happened to the money from Madrid,” he told the press on Thursday.
Although this is the second scandal for the Partido Popular in a short time, new party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo says he remains calm. But the opposition in the capital has had enough. “Madrid deserves a clean government that uses public money to provide public services and not to fill the pockets of friends,” said Rita Maestre of the Más Madrid party.