Jaume Matas, the ex-President of the Balearic Islands, has been sentenced to 6 years in jail for corruption and fraud, after he was convicted of using public money to bribe journalists into writing nice things about him, and to ignore certain allegations. On top of the six years, he has an additional sentence of 9 months for misuse of a public position. In all, two and half years less than that asked for by the Prosecutor General.
His press officer, journalist Antonio Alemany, has been sentenced to 3 years for corruption, bribery and fraud.
It’s the first time a retired President of a region has ever been jailed in Spain, and only the second time an ex-minister has every gone to jail (he was Minister of the Environment from 2000-20003).
The investigations are part of the Palma Arena corruption case, in which the King of Spain’s son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarín, has been accused of using his position to receive vast wads of public money in exchange for patronage. It’s the first jailings in the case, although five more hearings will be heard later this month.
From El Mundo (and many others)