Overview
- The Trade agency’s board confirmed on December 30 the removal of Fernando Ferrero, whose dismissal was decided on December 16 after he disclosed his role as a founding partner in the company behind Seville’s bar La Bola.
- La Bola Innovación, now administered by former SEPI chief Vicente Fernández, was raided by UCO on December 11 over suspicions the venue could have been used to launder illicit proceeds.
- Junta spokesperson Carolina España said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Ferrero and described the action as a preventive measure to avoid reputational harm to Trade.
- Fernández and former PSOE activist Leire Díez are being investigated for alleged fraud, falsification, embezzlement, influence peddling and prevarication, with investigators also reviewing Fernández’s assets estimated at over €4 million.
- The case has spurred political crossfire that has touched Finance Minister María Jesús Montero, as the Junta maintains it sees no issue regarding current regional auditor Miguel Ángel Figueroa, citing no known commercial links to the firms under scrutiny.