PALMA
THE former Partido Popular Minister for Tourism and Parliamentary spokesperson, Joan Flaquer, has been called to be questioned by the judge presiding over the investigation into the Palma Arena velodrome scandal.
Flaquer is already caught up in the Ibatur case involving the alleged misuse of public funds and now Judge Jose Castro, who is investigating the alleged corrupt construction of the velodrome which cost twice the initial budget to build, wants to question Flaquer.
Flaquer has been ordered to appear in court on November 19. The Palma Arena case has been broken down into 25 different parts and the judge wants to question Flaquer about the now defunct Ibatur (Institute for Tourism Promotions) about the deal the department struck with the then Ministry for Tourism to sponsor the World Track Championships at the Arena.
Flaquer claims it was the obvious body to sponsor the event at a cost of 350'000 euros.
The ex-secretary of Ibatur, currently out on bail of 250'000 as part of the Ibatur Case, has also been ordered to appear in court on November 19.
The key area of investigation of the Palma Arena case is the alleged misappropriation of public funds from the over inflated construction budget.