The Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police reflects that days before the rescue of the Plus Ultra airline was officially approved, Julio Martínez Martínez, the friend of former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, had privileged information about the operation, since he congratulated Rodolfo Reyes, owner of the company, for obtaining the loan. The investigators also report that a week before the Council of Ministers gave the green light to the rescue, there was a celebratory meal with oysters and champagne between Roberto Roselli, the company’s financial director, and Julio Martínez Sola, its president, a banquet about which Martínez Martínez jokingly commented in a group chat that the SEPI – the entity that rescued the airline – did not approve those expenses.
“Don’t worry, that comes out of 1%,” Roselli responded for obtaining the ransom.
The meal was held on the same day that José Ángel Partearroyo, a senior official at SEPI, announced that the rescue would be approved. However, UDEF investigators point out that on February 26 he congratulated the owner of the airline in a message. “Already in the last few days to obtain the loan from SEPI, it will most likely be in the Council of Ministers on March 9. My greatest congratulations for having achieved the objective,” Martínez wrote to Reyes on February 26, 2021. “Without a doubt, it has been a consequence of the exceptional work carried out by the Plusultra team. I have been informed of this excellent work and congratulated by SEPI itself,” he added.
The researchers consider that “the fact that the visible head of the influence network communicates by text message the obtaining of the desired result, that is, the notification of obtaining public aid, denotes and evidences prior and extra-procedural knowledge of the meaning of the resolution”, since at that time “the meeting of the FASEE Management Council had not even been held”, the Fund to Support the Solvency of Strategic Companies managed by the SEPI, which met on March 2, 2021 to make the decision.
The report also includes Reyes’ response to the friend of former President Zapatero: “Thank you for the support. Difficult times that can only be overcome with the support of friends and good relationships. Plusultra was going very well in its development plan, unfortunately COVID put us back a few boxes. But hey, with the help and the team we will get ahead.”
The day that the FASEE approved the aid to Plus Ultra, José Ángel Partearroyo, from the SEPI, informed the company’s president, Julio Martínez Sola, that everything had been approved: “Everything has already been approved conditional on your approval of the contracts and the council of ministers after your approval,” Partearroyo writes to Martínez Sola, according to the UDEF report. In that same thread of messages, Partearroyo warned: “No press until the council of ministers please.”
That same March 2, according to a conversation to which the investigators have had access “in a group chat called PU”, it is inferred that “a meal is being held” between Julio Martínez Sola and Roberto Roselli of which there is a photograph of Martínez Sola on a terrace with a plate of oysters and a bottle of champagne. In that thread of messages, Julio Martínez Martínez warns: “The SEPI does not approve these expenses.” To this, Roselli responds: “Don’t worry, that comes out of 1%”, in reference to the contract signed between Plus Ultra and Idella Consulenza Stratégica – a company owned by Julio Martínez Martínez – in which it had been agreed that if public aid was granted, he would receive 1% plus VAT of the amount through his company. “So, approved,” Martínez Martínez ditches.
The UDEF report to which EL PAÍS has had access includes a series of messages forwarded by Julio Martínez Sola to Rodolfo Reyes in which it is indicated that “only some people are aware” of the approval of the rescue, among whom is Julio Martínez Martínez.
“Good news Rodolfo,” says Julio Martínez Sola to Reyes on March 2 after receiving the “ok” from José Ángel Partearroyo.
“I’ll have a rum now,” Reyes answers.
-Noooo. Carajillo. Loaded. Only Santiago, Roberto, Tetero, Tocayo and you know. We must not tell it at the moment. Logically, whoever you want,” adds Martínez Sola.
“Calladitos, we look prettier,” Reyes responds.
The UDEF investigators conclude that from the conversations it is inferred that Julio Martínez Martínez “would have had privileged access to the SEPI information”, since the messages before the meal between Martínez Sola and Roselli announced that the airline would be rescued and, at that time, the researchers point out, “at that time the meeting of the FASEE Management Council had not even been held.” The UDEF speaks of “ability to access privileged information from the influence network, in addition to interference in the normal development of the decision-making process.”
