PALMA
MEMBER of the Balearic Parliament, Bartomeu Vicens, who is facing charges related to an alleged corruption scandal was released by a regional High Court yesterday on bail of 100'000 euros.
At lunch-time yesterday, Vicens - who is the ex speaker of the Majorcan Unionist party - was given 24 hours to find the bail money. The presiding judge, Antonio Capo, said that if he fails to come up with the funds, he will be sent to prison. The Prosecution had meanwhile asked that Vicens be made to find bail of 800'000 euros. Vicens was acting regional Minister for Territory in the Balearic government at the time the corruption was alleged to have taken place. He is reportedly implicated in five different crimes and if found guilty could be facing a prison sentence of around 19 years. These related to falsification of documentation (up to 3 years); crime related to the Inland Revenue (up to 4 years); fraud (up to 6 years); money laundering (up to 6 years) and bribery.