It seems to be one corruption case, fraud or scandal after another these days, the latest being alleged irregularities in job training courses, with millions of euros involved.
The National Police’s economic crimes squad, the UDEF, is investigating alleged irregularities in job training courses conducted between 2007 and 2013 which were funded by the regional government and, possibly, by the EU.
Investigators are trying to establish whether money was wrongfully given to companies that never actually held any courses and the evidence so far includes class rolls of people who say they never attended a course even though their name was put down on the list by the companies.
The Andalucian government believes the investigation is a shameful attack on the region, although the Andalucian education commissioner, Luciano Alonso, is also reported as saying that a refund of the public grant has been requested in 56 cases, adding that so far one recipient has partially returned the money.
Former premier Manuel Chaves and his successor, José Antonio Griñán, have been caught up in an ongoing court investigation into an alleged fraud scheme involving a public fund set up to help troubled companies pay severance to laid off workers.
In Madrid, investigators have found that around €15 million in state and regional funds were used to sponsor phony training programs for non-existent students in that region.
The EU is also asking questions as to whether European funds are involved in the latest alleged fraud.