Former general secretary of UGT Andalucía, Francisco Fernández Sevilla, denied any irregularity in the management of the subsidies received by the union from the Andalusian government between 2009 and 2013 for training. He and four other members of the former leadership are accused of continuous fraud and falsification of commercial documents. The prosecution is seeking 14 years in prison and a 50 million euro fine for allegedly embezzling up to 40 million euros for activities unrelated to the intended purpose of the subsidies.
The investigation revealed various mechanisms used by UGT-A to benefit financially, including discounts on invoices from suppliers that were not reported to the authorities. Other methods included leasing UGT premises to a commercial company, Soralpe, which rented out training rooms without incurring expenses, and a fund that allowed the union to finance itself through simulated invoices. Fernández claimed ignorance of these practices until they were leaked to the media by a former UGT-A employee, leading to public scrutiny.
Fernández emphasized that there was only one accounting system and denied the existence of separate accounts. He defended the decision to store the union’s financial records in a notary’s office for transparency, stating he never instructed subordinates on how to justify the subsidies. He attributed the accusations to a orchestrated “movie” against UGT-A, suggesting that the Andalusian government under the PSOE at the time approved and praised the training courses.
In addition to Fernández, four other former UGT-A members and ten former suppliers are facing charges. The prosecution is seeking a total of 26 years in prison and 200 million euros in fines. The trial, which began in late January almost 11 years after the investigation started, involves 14 aid grants awarded by the Andalusian government to UGT-A between 2009 and 2011 for over 2000 training courses for the unemployed.
The defense argues that there was no wrongdoing in the management of the subsidies and that the accusations are part of a smear campaign. Fernández distanced himself from the alleged fraud scheme, claiming ignorance of the practices being investigated. The trial highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, especially in organizations that receive government subsidies for social programs.
The outcome of the trial will have implications for the reputation of UGT-A and its former leadership. The allegations of fraud and falsification raise concerns about the misuse of public funds and the need for stronger oversight measures to prevent such incidents in the future. As the proceedings continue, the defendants will have the opportunity to present their defense and confront the evidence against them in court.
