Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Spanish Judge Seizes Passport of Ex-IMF Chief Rato in Fraud Probe

 Former economy minister Rodrigo Rato


Reuters, 06/10 16:47 CET
 
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish judge confiscated former economy minister Rodrigo Rato’s passport on Tuesday as a precautionary measure, a Madrid court said, as it investigates allegations of money laundering, tax fraud and corruption against him.

Rato, also a former head of the International Monetary Fund and the ex-chairman of bailed-out Spanish bank Bankia, appeared in court for three hours on Tuesday to answer questions from the judge, an examining magistrate.

Television images showed Rato hounded by photographers and journalists as he walked from the courthouse to a waiting car. Sixteen witnesses will answer questions as part of the probe on Wednesday and Thursday, the court said.

Rato was a former star of the governing People’s Party and was favourite to become leader in the early 2000s, making the judicial investigation of his affairs an embarrassment for the centre-right party as it gears up for a national election.

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Source: Euronews

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