Mallorca financier faces judge over Plus Ultra funds

A Dutch financier based on the Spanish island of Mallorca faces questioning in Madrid at 9am on Friday over suspected money laundering linked to airline Plus Ultra. Simon Lendeert Verhoeven is due before Judge José Luis Calama at Spain’s National Court. Investigators suspect he directed the financial side of the alleged scheme.

Where investigators say the money went

Investigators in Spain, France and Switzerland suspect Verhoeven used his companies to send funds from abroad to Plus Ultra, with purported investment or loan agreements as cover. They also allege that international companies generated false invoices as part of the scheme.

The inquiry examines suspected embezzlement, influence peddling, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation. Former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is also under investigation over an alleged influence-peddling network linked to the €53 million bailout the government gave Plus Ultra during the coronavirus pandemic.

Investigators believe Rodolfo Reyes, a former Plus Ultra board member whose whereabouts are unknown, ordered some money received by the airline to be sent to three companies linked to Verhoeven. The judge says the funds allegedly ended up in hard-to-trace accounts in Gibraltar, Switzerland, Montenegro, the United Kingdom and Mauritius.

Friday’s hearing follows his release

Verhoeven was arrested in Germany and handed over to Spain in mid-September. He was held at Soto del Real prison near Madrid, then declined to testify when he first appeared before the judge.

Calama released him but took his passport, barred him from leaving Spain and ordered him to report to court every two days. Friday’s hearing gives the judge another chance to question him.

Topics: Court cases

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com