The scandal of the subsidies granted by Ximo Puig to his brother's company

The Generalitat Valenciana allocated 706,869.18 euros ($706,869.18) in subsidies between 2015 and 2019 to companies linked to Francis Puig, brother of former president Ximo Puig.

This is confirmed by the order of the Investigative Court number 4 of Valencia, issued on January 28.

The magistrate has decided to open an abbreviated procedure against Francis Puig and Juan Enrique Adell for alleged crimes of fraud and document falsification.

This step is the precedent to the opening of an oral trial, which could lead to a criminal process against them.

According to the judicial order, the amounts allegedly obtained improperly by companies related to Francis Puig amount to 63,503.73 euros ($63,503.73). This would correspond to 8.98% of the total subsidies received.

Benefited companies and questioned figures

Among the main companies receiving these funds is Comunicacions dels Ports, which obtained 280,130.26 euros ($280,130.26) in subsidies between 2015 and 2018.

Of this amount, the judge considers that 29,842.48 euros ($29,842.48) were received improperly. In percentage terms, this represents 10.65% of the total received by the company.

Another company involved is Mas Mut Produccions, domiciled in Peñarroya de Tastavins, Teruel. Despite being located outside the Valencian Community, it received 58,866.69 euros ($58,866.69) in aid from the Generalitat between 2015 and 2018.

According to the order, 9,397 euros ($9,397) of this figure were obtained fraudulently, which equals 15.96% of the total.

Meanwhile, Canal Maestrat, another of the companies linked to Francis Puig, obtained 286,724.39 euros ($286,724.39) in subsidies in the analyzed period.

Of this amount, the justice considers that 24,264.25 euros ($24,264.25) were received irregularly, which represents 8.46% of the total.

Subsidies in the name of multilingualism

Another of the investigated companies, Kriol, received public funds under the Government of Ximo Puig. In 2017, it received 22,609.84 euros ($22,609.84) for the promotion of multilingualism through the Telescola program.

In 2018, it obtained 35,858 euros ($35,858) in subsidies for advertising campaigns. Additionally, in 2019 it received a grant of 11,340 euros ($11,340), recorded twice, for the Avalem Joves program.

This case is part of an investigation into the use of public funds during the socialist management of Ximo Puig in the Generalitat Valenciana.

The alleged irregular granting of subsidies to companies related to his brother questions the transparency in the distribution of public aid.

The abbreviated procedure dictated by the judge indicates that there are solid indications of crime. The justice must determine if Francis Puig and Juan Enrique Adell face an oral trial. A trial in which they could be convicted of fraud and document falsification.

Meanwhile, this case continues to generate a strong political impact, given that Ximo Puig was president of the Valencian Community during the period in which the investigated subsidies were granted.

The progress of the case will determine the judicial future of the accused and could shed new implications on the management of public funds in the Valencian Community during the socialist governments.