Operation Valka: Civil Guard Investigates Corruption in Las Palmas and Lanzarote
The Civil Guard is conducting extensive searches this Monday at municipal offices in the City Hall of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Lanzarote as part of a significant operation aimed at uncovering possible corruption within urban planning. According to the Prosecutors Office of Las Palmas, five individuals are currently under investigation in what is known as Operation Valka. The alleged crimes include administrative prevarication, urban prevarication, influence peddling, prohibited negotiations and activities by public officials, misappropriation of public funds, forgery of public documents, and the disclosure of privileged information.
Under the guidance of magistrates from Investigating Court Number 2 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, along with delegated prosecutors specializing in Environment, Urbanism, and Anticorruption, the Civil Guard has executed multiple entries and searches in both Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Key locations include the offices of the Municipal Society of Urban Management of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (GEURSA) and the Department of Parks and Gardens within the Las Palmas City Hall.
The investigation, as outlined by the Prosecutors Office, is centered around the potential existence of an organized network allegedly aimed at unlawfully benefiting specific businessmen through urban and administrative decisions that contradict the general interest. These decisions are believed to be disproportionately influenced by public officials and former officials associated with Geursa.
In conjunction with these inquiries, the investigation is also probing into potentially fraudulent practices related to the awarding of work assignments, contracts, and projects, including significant infrastructure developments such as the MetroGuagua project in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
As the investigation is currently under a secrecy order, the provincial Prosecutors Office has indicated that they do not rule out the possibility of future arrests or charges as the case progresses.
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