Jailed ex-PP treasurer loses courtyard privileges after incident with civil guards

There will be no walks in the prison courtyard for the next 140 days for former Popular Party (PP) treasurer Luis Bárcenas, who has been in jail pending trial at Soto del Real penitentiary (Madrid) since June 2013.

The decision to sanction Bárcenas came after the latter was placed in a police vehicle on January 8 to go to hospital for treatment for allergies, the daily 20minutos reports, citing prison sources.

The former treasurer, who is being investigated for tax fraud and money laundering, among other charges, allegedly argued with the civil guards taking him to Gregorio Marañón hospital. According to the official reports, he told the officers that he did not wish to enter the medical center in handcuffs, with his hands behind his back.

The police vehicle then stopped at the last checkpoint before leaving the penitentiary, and Bárcenas said he did not wish to go to the hospital anymore, but back to his cell. Once there, he asked to see the prison doctor to file a complaint against a Civil Guard officer, claiming that the latter hurt his wrists.

The former treasurer was warned that his attitude inside the vehicle was liable to get him sanctioned for insubordination.