The Central Operative Unit of the Civil Guard found an envelope with 7620 euros in cash in the name of Javier Aureliano García, former president of the Almería Provincial Council, during searches in an investigation into irregular contract awards. The discovery, along with a document on cash income, points to possible money laundering maneuvers. The case is part of the second phase of the masks plot.
The judge who ordered the arrest of Javier Aureliano García considers that the handling of cash by the former PP president of the Almería Provincial Council indicates his "full knowledge, acquiescence, and participation" in a plot to award contracts irregularly and collect commissions. The UCO, in searches last week as part of the second phase of the masks case, found evidence of capital laundering.
In the home of García's sister, María Rosario —also under investigation—, an envelope with 7620 euros in bills was found along with a handwritten note in red ink that read: “This money belongs to Javier Aureliano”. There were also blue ink annotations with amounts like 450 euros, 100, 500, and 220 euros, which María Rosario attributed to personal expenses. The UCO interprets this as an attempt to justify non-banked income.
A document titled “declared and cash-collected income” was also discovered, with a table detailing figures by year: 4869 euros in 2021, 8817.46 euros in 2023, and 11701.88 euros in 2024. These amounts are linked to rental income from apartments and 25% benefits in the García Molina CB community of goods. One of the apartments, a paternal inheritance, was bought by García from his siblings, with mortgage payments made in cash totaling 19750 euros from ATMs in Roquetas de Mar and El Ejido to his sister's account.
In other searches, Rodrigo Sánchez López, son of the former mayor of Fines and arrested in the operation, had 7900 euros and five shotguns seized, possibly in illegal possession. His father had 1750 euros. The investigation reveals WhatsApp exchanges since 2018 between the ex-mayor and Óscar Liria, nephew and former deputy president of the Provincial Council, to arrange bids with companies like OYC. Handwritten notes indicate simulated reductions of 2%, 4%, and 5% in offers to favor awards, including in the 2020 Acelera Plan. Companies like Albaida acted as "accompanying companies" in similar frauds, reminiscent of a previous macro-case against the PP for illegal contracting and party financing.