The other side of the commissions for the masks: four crimes and up to 23 years in prison

• Courts Luis Medina, to the judge: "I am a meat and mining broker. Until Covid I have not dedicated myself to health issues"

• Justice The judge charges Luis Medina with a crime of raising assets and gives him three days to pay almost 900,000 euros of bail

The crimes that hang over Luis Medina and Alberto Luceño brought them succulent commissions, but in a second installment they could also mean many years in prison.

In his resolution this Monday, Judge

attributes to both the alleged commission of three crimes in the sale to the

of masks, gloves and tests at the beginning of the pandemic.

A Medina adds a room.

It is about aggravated fraud, falsehood in a commercial document and money laundering, which appeared in the heading of the complaint that Anticorruption presented in court on April 6.

The son of Nati Abascal and the Duke of Feria adds to the previous ones the alleged crime of raising assets.

Despite the express warning of the prosecutor

when he questioned him a year ago, everything indicates that he has put his assets in a safe place so that Justice cannot block them.

The main crime in the case is fraud, which in this case is considered aggravated.

In the resolution imposing precautionary measures, the investigating judge indicates that the crime is punishable by up to eight years in prison.

In principle, the basic crime of fraud only reaches up to three years in prison, but when it is considered aggravated it can go up to eight.

In the investigated case, it would be aggravated both for exceeding 250,000 euros and for certain circumstances.

The main one, which would have affected essential goods, such as medical devices in the first weeks of the pandemic.

Regarding the falsity in a commercial document, both the prosecutor and the judge suspect that several of the documents that appear in the case are false.

For example, that theoretically gave Luceño the status of exclusive agent for

, the Malaysian company that provided the material.

This crime could mean another three years in prison.

More serious would be the subsequent laundering.

The maneuvers to launder the funds allegedly obtained illicitly could cost another six years in prison.

The judge describes as possible laundering operations such as the purchase of a yacht by Medina or luxury vehicles in the case of Luceño.

Finally, the crime of concealment of assets already charged to Medina can reach up to six years in prison in certain circumstances.

The base offense provides for up to four years, but if the person who, due to the maneuver, could be left without recovering the funds is a public entity, such as the Madrid City Council, the penalty can reach six years in prison.

Despite everything, the sum of 23 years is the theoretical maximum.

Not only must the commission of each of the crimes be proven in court, but it is very rare that the sentence imposed is in all cases the highest possible.

Both money laundering and falsehood and uprising have a minimum sentence of six months or one year.

The scam also starts with only six months in prison, although when it is considered aggravated, that minimum is triggered up to four years, a sentence that if imposed would in itself mean effective entry into prison.

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

Know more

• Justice

• Corruption