Businessman Julio Martínez implicates Rodríguez Zapatero in the loan to Plus Ultra
In a letter addressed to the judge of the National High Court, the investigator states that the former president "marked the steps to be taken" in rescuing the airline and admits that he received a 1% commission for mediation.
The businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, friend of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and one of the main persons investigated in the Plus Ultra case, has submitted to the judge a letter confirming the role played by the former Spanish president in the public loan obtained by the airline Plus Ultra in 2021 and the collection of 1%.
One day before his statement to the National High Court, Martinez stated that Zapatero was "constantly aware of all the steps being taken" in relation to obtaining a loan of EUR 53 million and that he had been informed by the government that he would accept it 10 days earlier.
According to this businessman, Zapatero was "in charge" of the consultancy Analisis Recurrante (which was administered by Martínez and which is key in the case), despite not appearing in the shareholding, and had attracted four companies, including Plus Ultra, "for being a former president of the government and for the personal and professional relationships he has."
The idea was for Zapatero to produce reports on strategy and international relations that Sergio Sánchez would "finish" and model the companies of the daughters of former President Whathefav, with whom they established an "equal" of 3,000 euros a month and "paid" until 2025.
Zapatero made contact with Plus Ultra.
Martinez has revealed that the former president told him in May 2020 that he would receive a call from Plus Ultra managers informing him of the airline's need for funding.
In this search for funding, according to the businessman, Zapatero "suggested" that they contact the vice president of Banco Santander, Juan Manuel Cendoya, or La Caixa, but "these channels" did not work.
Upon learning of the possibility of obtaining assistance from the Plus Ultra State Company for Industrial Holdings (SEPI), efforts were "channelled" along this path, and on 30 July 2020 the airline decided to pay 5,000 euros per month to Analisis Correspondante.
According to Martinez, whether or not he wrote the contract, "the fees to be paid were in exchange for the advice that Mr Rodríguez Zapatero had given since May."
In addition, in January 2021, the airline signed a contract with Idella (represented by Martinez) whereby it undertook to "pay 1%" of this aid if it obtained such a loan.
According to the judge, there is no "certainty" that this 1% (about 530,000 euros) has been paid in Spain, which "reinforces" the "hypothesis" that it has been "channelled" through a company in Dubai.
"Success" of the operation
Martinez states in his writing that after the first operation with Plus Ultra was "successful", the professional relationship with Analisis Recurrante was maintained in relation to issues to be resolved in Venezuela due to the technical and logistical difficulties of the company.
At the same time, according to the businessman, Analisis Descendant signed other "model" contracts with Softgestor, Intelligence Prospectiba and Aldesa to advise Zapatero on issues related to Venezuela, among others.
The police confiscated 286,000 euros from Martinez at his home, which he claims is money from the sale of real estate assets, which has nothing to do with the case.
For its part, the legal representation of Plus Ultra has sent a letter to the court expressing its intention to "cooperate as much as possible".
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