Supreme court to probe Socialist ex-minister on corruption claim

The Supreme Court will investigate the Socialist politician who was until a week ago Spain's public works minister, José Blanco, over a case of illegal commissions in exchange for public subsidies.

A judge in Lugo investigating of a case known as Operation Champion found enough evidence of influence peddling and the acceptance of bribes against Blanco, a veteran Socialist Party member, to hand that part of the case over to the Supreme Court, the only tribunal that may try a member of Congress.

A businessman is accusing Blanco - who also served as government spokesman until last week - of pulling strings in his favor in exchange for money.

Jorge Dorribo, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur, said he paid Blanco 400,000 euros to secure a public subsidy and speed up the process of obtaining the necessary permits for his company, Laboratorios Nupel.

The evidence includes cellphone messages, emails and cash withdrawals from banks. The payments were allegedly made through Blanco's cousin, Manuel Bran.

Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with Operation Champion, including Dorribo himself and two high-ranking officials from Igape, the Galician agency that awarded the subsidies. Dorribo was jailed in May as the alleged ringleader of a scheme aimed at obtaining public subsidies fraudulently.