Arrests in Andalucia in phoney training courses investigation

DOZENS of people have been arrested this Tuesday in connection with a fraud scheme involving fake training courses paid for by the regional Andalucian government.

Police launched a series of raids in Malaga, Almeria and Cadiz, arresting politicians, public workers and businessmen among others. Among those detained are the former Socialist mayor of Jerez de la Frontera, Pilar Sanchez, and a councillor from the same party in Roquetas de Mar, according to El Pais.

The Economic and Fiscal Crimes Unit (UDEF) said that 70 to 90 warrants have been issued and will be executed in the coming days. The scheme is believed to be centred around more than €3 billion the Andalucian government issued for vocation training programmes over a period between 2007 and 2013. UDEF believes that between €20 million and €40 million may have been illegally handed out to people and businesses for classes that were never held, says El Pais.

Around 1,000 people and firms who benefited from the money are believed to be under scrutiny as part of Operation Edu, an investigation into phony training programmes.