Luis F. Durán Madrid

Madrid

Updated Tuesday, February 27, 2024-00:40

  • Courts A court cites the leadership of the Madrid Municipal Police and several commanders as being investigated for alleged rigging in the oppositions

  • Courts The Court reopens the case for possible rigging in the oppositions of the Municipal Police of Madrid

The Internal Affairs department of the Madrid Municipal Police is investigating possible fraud in the collection of overtime by some middle managers of the Centro Sur police station made up of more than 300 agents.

One of the sub-inspectors (formerly a sergeant) has already declared in the Disciplinary Regime to explain the overtime payments

that could have allowed him to receive 100,000 euros gross per year and monthly payrolls of between 8,000 and 9,000 euros.

A spokesperson for the Security and Emergencies Area of ​​the Madrid City Council has confirmed that an investigation is underway and that several commanders have been summoned to testify in order to find out if there is any type of irregularity.

Union sources explain that two of those investigated have currently been charged with serious misconduct pending the results of the investigations.

Furthermore, Matías Fuentes, former commissioner of the South Center, could be implicated in this matter for not properly monitoring his subordinates and signing the payment for those hours.

Due to this scandal, logically

the execution of all overtime in the unit is being monitored,

although as always, agents from Centro Sur and other districts continue to be sent to perform services such as the Rastro or street vending, according to the same sources.

After

several months of investigation and monitoring by the Internal Affairs Unit

, the Department of Disciplinary Regime of the Main Internal Regime Police Station of the Municipal Police of Madrid summoned one of the sub-inspectors last Wednesday, February 7, against the that there is extensive documentation on possible irregularities.

According to the same sources consulted, this disciplinary investigation began half a year ago, in the month of September 2023, and now

Internal Affairs has gathered enough incriminating evidence against said sub-inspector and against another commander

of the Centro police station. South.

According to union sources from the Municipal Police, this sub-inspector (a position previously called sergeant)

was already investigated for the same events and other irregular practices in the service

, by his commanders and by the leadership in 2018, without it being concluded at that time. with a disciplinary sanction.

Transfer of the Central South commissioner

It was precisely at the end of last year when the head of this police station, Matías Fuentes del Moral, requested the Ronda Unit of the Mayor's Office Special Protection Group GEP as a new destination.

Some police sources relate his transfer to this investigation of possible

fraud committed by commanders who were under

his orders.

According to union sources, the Internal Affairs Unit has followed up on the sub-inspector under suspicion and was able to verify that he spent overtime while eating at home or in a restaurant, and that on occasions he even stated that he worked almost 24 hours a day, presenting payment from 6:00 a.m. one day to 4:00 a.m. the next day.

Thus, his monthly salaries, according to the same sources, since 2006 amounted to between 8,000 and 10,000 euros, which meant income per year of more than 100,000 euros, and

in several annuities he has managed to earn around 140,000 euros

, being commented, These amounts were exaggerated by the district police, with the joke that "he earned more than the mayor."

Other legal sources from the police unions believe that in addition to the disciplinary sanctions, the Headquarters of the Corps could transfer the proceedings to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Madrid or the Court of Investigation on duty in Plaza Castilla if alleged crimes of fraud

, falsehood are detected

documentary, embezzlement of public funds and prevarication

that could lead to prison sentences and disqualification from public office.

It must be taken into account that they are investigating whether there has been deception, misappropriation of public assets committed by a public official, and falsely recorded hours settlement reports.

According to union sources, this investigation is causing

retaliation against basic police officers, creating a bad work environment and impacting the unit's service

.

In addition, several of the investigated commanders threaten to "pull the blanket if they are unfairly punished."

There are municipal police officers in the South Center who report that since the commanders are being investigated and, after their statement before the Department of Disciplinary Regime of the Municipal Police, "they have turned the fan on" and in revenge

they are denouncing other colleagues for minor matters. .

Some police officers have told their work groups that

they are thinking about requesting a change of unit

and denounce, among other things, "the prohibition of enjoying one's own business on the weekend without prior justified cause, the strict control in permanent positions with threats of a disciplinary report for being involved in the patrol vehicle, the decrease in extraordinary services and the number of troops in them, the lack of sufficient patrols available to work, the impossibility of ensuring releases and the so-called

long weeks

".