The much-anticipated trial against Pepe Vegara, the mayor of Orihuela, has been postponed. Originally scheduled for this week, the court has rescheduled the hearings to November 14th, 21st, and 28th at 9:30 a.m. Vegara faces accusations of falsifying commercial documents and committing two crimes against the Public Treasury related to VAT and Corporate Tax evasion during the 2005 fiscal year.
Courtroom Delay
The trial was postponed after Vegara appeared at the Plaza Santa Lucía courts on Wednesday without legal representation. Although his defence team had initially sought a postponement, it was ultimately the judge who decided to delay proceedings due to the absence of Vegara’s lawyer, who provided a medical justification for his nonappearance.
During the brief hearing, the judge officially noted the lawyer’s absence and adjourned the trial. Court officials handed Vegara and the other defendants new summonses for the November dates.
Speaking to the media outside the courtroom, Vegara proclaimed his innocence and emphasized that he would not agree to any plea deal with the prosecution, which is seeking a seven-year prison sentence for all the accused. “I am so confident of my innocence that I will not entertain any agreement,” Vegara stated.
Changes in Legal Representation
Given his lawyer’s health condition, Vegara announced that he may seek new legal representation if his current attorney cannot recover in time for the trial. He added, “I have to evaluate who will take over if necessary.”
Political Fallout and Resignation Calls
The mayor’s legal troubles have prompted calls for his resignation, particularly from opposition parties. However, Vegara has firmly rejected these demands, maintaining that his legal issues do not affect his ability to govern. He stated, “I am as calm today as I was 20 years ago or when this case first surfaced during my candidacy.”
The trial’s delay also caused Vegara to miss the opening day of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Madrid, where he was expected to represent Orihuela. He assured reporters that he would attend the event on Thursday to fulfil his commitments.
PSOE Criticism
The Orihuela branch of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) has accused Vegara of deliberately orchestrating the trial’s delay. They argue that the absence of his lawyer was a “calculated manoeuvre” aimed at postponing justice and potentially allowing the statute of limitations to expire.
In a statement, the PSOE called for transparency and swift judicial proceedings. “If the mayor truly believes in his innocence, he should facilitate the judicial process instead of delaying it,” the statement read. They also urged the Valencian branch of the Popular Party (PP) to demand Vegara clarify his legal situation and avoid tactics that damage public confidence.
Charges Against Vegara
The case centres on allegations that Vegara and executives from his companies, Estación ITV and Orikoffee SL, manipulated financial records to evade taxes. According to the prosecution, they falsely reduced corporate profits to minimize VAT and Corporate Tax obligations for 2005.
The Tax Agency’s investigation revealed that Vegara’s company, Estación ITV, allegedly collaborated with Orikoffee SL to fabricate invoices. These invoices purportedly documented the purchase of 100,000 advertising telephone diaries at an inflated price of €17 each, while the actual production cost was €1.31 per unit.
The prosecution has labelled Vegara a “necessary collaborator” in the falsification of documents and a “material co-author” of tax fraud. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison, fines exceeding €5.1 million, and disqualification from holding public office or accessing tax incentives.
Conclusion
Despite Vegara’s insistence on his innocence, the allegations have cast a shadow over his leadership. The postponed trial, now set for November, will determine whether the mayor of Orihuela and his co-defendants are guilty of the crimes alleged. Until then, political tensions and public scrutiny surrounding the case are expected to continue escalating.
