Building firm paid Spain’s UK ambassador €354,000

TAX auditors have said that Spain’s ambassador in London, Federico Trillo, and Popular Party deputy, received more than €429,000 in consulting fees from a private construction firm specialising in public works while they were serving in congress.

The report from Spanish daily El Pais goes on to add that the two PP officials have acknowledged getting paid as consultants for Grupo Collosa, but both denied any wrongdoing and claimed that they had special authorisation from congress to perform outside work.

Trillo, who once also served as defence minister, received €354,560 over close to a three year period, while Pujalte was paid €75,000 in little over a year, according to AEAT Tax Agency auditors.

In separate statements, both Trillo and Pujalte acknowledged that they received money from Collosa for consulting work, but at the same time accused the AEAT Tax Agency and the anti-corruption division of leaking taxpayers’ information, which under law should remain confidential.