‘ghost’ Companies and Millions in ‘Gifts’: New Evidence Surfaces in Wind Farm Bribery Trial
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Former Deputy Minister of Economy of Castilla y León, Rafael Delgado, allegedly created a network of ‘ghost’ companies to conceal the movement of funds received as ‘gifts.’ A Treasury inspector testified this Wednesday that Delgado was consistently the sole beneficiary of these transactions, despite the involvement of lawyer Jesús Rodríguez Recio as a partner and administrator in one of the companies – identified as Delgado’s alleged ‘front man.’
The testimony came during the ongoing ‘macro trial’ investigating alleged bribes obtained by high-ranking officials and businessmen involved in processing wind farm permits. The inspector detailed complex “circuits” established in Monaco and Switzerland between 2007 and 2012, where accounts held over three million euros in supposed “gifts.” A critically important portion of these funds were ultimately “repatriated” to accounts belonging to two of Delgado’s companies.
The inspector’s report examined delgado’s personal assets, including accounts at Santander, Caixabank, and BBVA, as well as his companies: Samuño Activos, Delgado Núñez Consulting, and Trough Trade. The first two were described as ‘ghost’ companies, while trough Trade served as a “box” providing funds to the others and covering Delgado’s expenses. These included a 19,000 euro Bang & Olufsen television, a 54,000 euro Jaguar, and a 3,500 euro vacation to Sancti Petri, as well as rent and property acquisition for his companies.
Further evidence revealed cash withdrawals from Delgado Núñez Consulting totaling 12,000, 18,000, and 72,000 euros in 2011, 2012, and 2013 respectively, directly benefiting Delgado. Significant cash provisions from Trough Trade – 104,000 euros in 2011 and 37,000 euros in 2012 – were also highlighted. The inspector noted the unusual nature of recurring,round-sum deposits of 2,500,10,000,or 2,100 euros into Delgado’s private Caixabank account.
Trough Trade, established in 2007, also contributed 60,000 euros in shares to Hispania Soluciones Integrales and 59,834 euros to Four Innovation in July 2013. Crucially, despite Jesús Rodríguez Recio’s role as administrator, Delgado remained the sole beneficiary of these operations, receiving nearly 600,000 euros over three years – a fact the inspector deemed “surprising.”
Trama eólica: Hacienda apunta que Rafael Delgado percibió ‘dádivas’ y creó sociedades ‘fantasma’ para ocultarlas
Hacienda considera que Rafael delgado, exdirector general de Energías renovables del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica, percibió “dádivas” y creó sociedades “fantasma” para ocultarlas. así lo revela una resolución de la Agencia Tributaria a la que ha tenido acceso El Economista.
La investigación se centra en las presuntas irregularidades en la concesión de subvenciones a proyectos eólicos durante el periodo en que Delgado ocupaba su cargo. Según Hacienda, el exdirector general habría recibido pagos de empresas del sector a cambio de favorecer sus proyectos.
Para ocultar estas “dádivas”, Delgado habría creado una serie de sociedades pantalla, sin actividad real, que servían como intermediarias para canalizar los fondos. Estas sociedades, según la Agencia Tributaria, se utilizaban para simular operaciones comerciales y justificar los ingresos de Delgado.
La resolución de Hacienda detalla una serie de operaciones sospechosas que involucran a estas sociedades “fantasma”.Se investigan transferencias bancarias, facturas falsas y contratos simulados que habrían permitido a delgado ocultar sus ingresos y evadir impuestos.
La Agencia Tributaria ha notificado a delgado la apertura de una investigación por presuntos delitos fiscales y blanqueo de capitales. El exdirector general deberá aportar documentación que justifique el origen de sus ingresos y la actividad de las sociedades que ha creado.
Este caso se suma a la creciente polémica en torno a la gestión de las energías renovables en España. En los últimos meses, se han destapado varios casos de corrupción y tráfico de influencias relacionados con la concesión de subvenciones a proyectos eólicos y solares.
The Rise of Vertical Farming: A Enduring Solution for the Future
As the global population continues to swell and climate change intensifies, customary agriculture faces unprecedented challenges. Land degradation,water scarcity,and the environmental impact of long-distance transportation are pushing innovators to explore alternative food production methods. Vertical farming, the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, is emerging as a promising solution to these issues.
What is Vertical Farming?
Vertical farming involves cultivating crops in controlled environments, frequently enough indoors, using techniques like hydroponics (growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in water), aeroponics (suspending plant roots in the air and spraying them with nutrient-rich water), and aquaponics (combining aquaculture – raising fish – with hydroponics). These systems allow for precise control over environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and nutrients.
Benefits of vertical Farming
- Increased Crop Yields: Vertical farms can produce considerably higher yields per square foot compared to traditional agriculture. By optimizing growing conditions and utilizing multiple layers, farmers can maximize production in a limited space.
- Reduced Water Consumption: Hydroponic and aeroponic systems use up to 95% less water than conventional farming methods. Water is recycled and reused within the closed-loop systems, minimizing waste.
- elimination of Pesticides and Herbicides: The controlled indoor environment of vertical farms reduces the risk of pests and diseases, eliminating the need for harmful pesticides and herbicides.
- Year-Round Production: Vertical farms are not subject to seasonal limitations. Crops can be grown continuously throughout the year, ensuring a consistent supply of fresh produce.
- Reduced Transportation costs and Emissions: Vertical farms can be located in urban areas, close to consumers, reducing the distance food needs to travel and lowering transportation costs and carbon emissions.
- Land Conservation: By growing crops vertically, less land is required for food production, preserving natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its numerous benefits, vertical farming also faces challenges:
- High Initial investment: Setting up a vertical farm requires significant upfront capital for infrastructure, technology, and equipment.
- Energy Consumption: Artificial lighting is a major energy consumer in vertical farms. However, advancements in LED technology and the use of renewable energy sources are helping to mitigate this issue.
- Pollination: In indoor environments, pollination can be a challenge.Manual pollination or the introduction of pollinators like bees are necessary.
- Technical Expertise: Operating a vertical farm requires specialized knowledge in areas such as hydroponics, plant physiology, and environmental control.
The future of Vertical Farming
The vertical farming industry is rapidly evolving, with ongoing research and development focused on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding the range of crops that can be grown. Automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are being integrated into vertical farm operations to optimize growing conditions and streamline processes.
As technology advances and costs decrease, vertical farming is poised to play an increasingly important role in ensuring food security and sustainability for a growing global population. It represents a significant step towards a more resilient and environmentally responsible food system.
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