Trial of Former Torrevieja Councilor for Contract Irregularities Begins

The Provincial Court of Alicante, located in Elche, is set to trial Carmen Gómez Candel, the former councilor in charge of Parks and Gardens for the Torrevieja City Council, alongside the then-director of the Mediterranean VIII Employment Workshop. This case stems from alleged irregularities in the contracting of materials and the construction of a substantial 40,000-square-meter park, according to sources from the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunidad Valenciana.

What Are the Allegations?

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor contends that both Gómez and her co-defendant engaged in a “unilateral” decision-making process regarding which companies would provide contracted services. They are accused of deliberately violating public contract laws by splitting service costs across multiple invoices. This alleged wrongdoing has resulted in a demand for 11 years of disqualification from public office for both defendants.

Specific Irregularities Identified

• Contracts totaling approximately €200,000 were allegedly awarded verbally, with €118,000 of these secured through phone calls and messages on platforms like WhatsApp.
• This lack of formal contracting processes raises serious concerns about compliance with public procurement regulations.
• The issues came to light following a change in the city’s government in May 2015, prompting an investigation initiated by the new leftist coalition, which also led to a halt in ongoing construction projects.

Consequences of the Allegations

As a result of the alleged mismanagement, most of the materials used for the park’s construction were destroyed when a new definitive park was constructed eight years later by the People’s Party (PP) at a cost of over €5 million—an increase of €800,000 beyond the original bidding price.

Political Fallout

• Carmen Gómez Candel’s resignation occurred in December 2022 amid mounting pressures from the ongoing investigations.
• She was also embroiled in another legal case regarding a contract-free clean-up plan awarded to Acciona, for which the prosecution is seeking 12 years of disqualification.

Upcoming Developments

The trial is scheduled to commence on Thursday in Section Seven of the Provincial Court in Elche. As updates unfold, the community remains attentive to how this case will develop, given its implications for local governance and public accountability.

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Source

For further details, read the full article on Información.