Mallorca: Vox’s Bestard faces criminal car-use complaint

Mallorca’s second deputy island council president, Pedro Bestard, is set to face a criminal complaint over his use of official cars: the Balearic Public Prosecutor’s Office decides on 1 November to file one after investigating suspected misuse of public funds. Bestard, a Vox politician, is also responsible for sports, the environment and rural affairs on the Mallorca Island Council.

The investigation follows a report filed by the council’s Socialist group on 2 July. The Socialists accuse Bestard of repeatedly using council vehicles for private trips, sometimes exclusively and without permission, with fuel and other costs paid for. They say the allegations could amount to continued misuse of public funds, misconduct in public office and falsifying documents.

After the case became public in May, the council commissioned internal reports. These found that Bestard had exclusive use of three official vehicles without evidence that they had been assigned to him on that basis. The reports called the arrangement inappropriate but said they could not conclusively establish misuse.

The council took no action against Bestard and instead drew up an internal instruction on official-car use. Prosecutors have now decided to pursue a criminal complaint.

Topics: Court cases · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com