The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) awarded the Spanish company Copisa Constructora Pirenaica SA, based in the country, a tender for more than $12 million (more than ¢6 billion) despite the fact that the company is under investigation by the Spanish judicial authorities for the alleged payment of bribes to obtain public works contracts.
According to Spanish media, the so-called “3% Case” is an alleged political corruption scandal linked to the group Convergence Democratic Alliance of Catalonia (federation of two Spanish political parties of Catalan nationalist ideology). Apparently, Convergencia charged illegal commissions in a percentage close to 3% of the budget for public works awarded by the government of Catalonia. This was mentioned since 2005, but the case was dismissed. However, it was reopened in 2015 and is still under investigation.
On August 1st, the newspaper El Español, based in Madrid, reported that Copisa Constructora is being investigated by the Audiencia Nacional in that country for the alleged payment to the Alliance Convergencia Democrática de Cataluña (CDC) to obtain public contracts.
El Español indicated that a contract for 1.8 million euros passed the filters of the officials sent by the Central Government for the control of the activity of the Generalitat of Catalonia, an institutional system in which this community is politically organized.
The newspaper El País published on February 13th 2017 that Constructora Copisa donated 50 thousand euros to the (CDC) only five days before the City Council of Barcelona awarded it the works of the surrounding areas of the Born Market in July 2012 for 2.8 million euros.
Xavier Tauler, former CEO of the Copisa group, presented an alleged series of irregularities in terms of the way he capitalized an account that transferred part of his funds to other accounts located outside Andorra, such as Copisa Internacional (Switzerland), or Copisa Pirenaica (Spain).
However, through a communication agency, Copisa told CRHoy.com that this official was separated from the company and that the company was certified as an anti-bribery and anti-corruption company.
With these certifications, Copisa Group’s commitment to transparency and best business practices is internationally recognized. The Board of Directors of the company appointed a Compliance Committee in 2016 within the framework of a new Corporate Criminal Risk Management, Prevention and Detection Program.