Spain's most wanted man is caught
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FROM ELIZABETH NASH in Madrid
Spain's most wanted man, Luis Roldan, former director of the Civil Guard, was detained last night by Spanish police in a South-East Asian city, thought to be the Thai capital, Bangkok, after having been on the run for nearly a year accused of bribery, fraud and misappropriation of public funds on a huge scale.
Mr Roldan, who in seven years as head of the paramilitary Civil Guard accumulated a vast personal fortune from interior ministry funds, was being flown back to Spain last night and is due to arrive today. He is expected to make a statement to the chief prosecutor in the case, Ana Ferrer, and be sent immediately to jail.
Mr Roldan, 51,who fled Spain on 29 April 1994, was the first civilian head of the Civil Guard. His flight precipitated a political crisis and caused the Interior Minister, Antonio Asuncion to resign. An international warrant for his arrest was issued and hundreds of officials have been scouring South America, Africa and the Far East for him. A spokesman for the ruling Socialist Party welcomed news of Mr Roldan's detention as "good news for everyone".
The Minister of Justice and the Interior, Juan Alberto Belloch, held an emergency meeting with ministers of state last night and was due to give full details to the public today
In the get-rich-quick days of Spain's economic boom of the late 1980s, many prominent figures made swift fortunes. But Mr Roldan's enrichment was seen as obscenely rapid.
He assembled a collection of flats, houses and farms by apparently manipulating contracts for the renovation of Civil Guard barracks. In addition, he is estimated to have squirreled away 5bn pesetas (£25m) in bank accounts in Switzerland and the Far East.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments