Costa Blanca
Supreme Court judge investigating the Pope's visit to Valencia
By h.b. - Nov 21, 2009 - 12:04 PM
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Judge Antonio Pedreira - EFE archive
Judge Pedreira is investigating links to the Gürtel corruption case
Judge Antonio Pedreira, who is instructing the Gürtel case in the Supreme Court of Justice in Madrid, is reported by El País to be investigating the possible links to the Catholic Church, and P.P. President of the Valencia region, Francisco Camps, who organized the Pope’s visit to Valencia in July 2006.
Valencia Government Spokesperson, Paula Sánchez de León, has admitted that the judge has asked for documentation about the 5th World Family Forum Foundation. The foundation is alleged to have spent a total of 12.2 million € in 2006, although it’s not known exactly what on, with the Valencia Government denying repeatedly to give explanations on the costs of the Pope’s visit to the city.
The judge is also investigating the contract between the regional television channel Canal 9 with the Teconsa company who supplied large screens and PA systems for the visit. Teconsa is linked to the network of companies owned by the man at the centre of Gürtel, Francisco Correa.