The Matas Case - Week One

Welcome to the everyday, every week story of corrupt political folk in Mallorca. In this week's episodes, former Balearics president Jaume Matas came up before the examining magistrate José Castro. First they had to adjourn and then they had to move court room because they reckoned the original room was bugged. Meanwhile, Jaume got annoyed by the fact that he was being called "Jaime". "Soy Jaume," he insisted in the best Catalan tradition, albeit that to be strictly Catalan he should have said "sóc". "Put a sóc in it," the magistrate might have said, but didn't.

Jaime, Jaume, did though admit to having paid 400 grand - in black - for work on his house in Palma. But some thought that this might have been a bit of a damage limitation ruse. Demonstrators were in no doubt. "Thieves," they and their placards cried out when Jaime, Jaume and his (their) wife and lawyer came to court. "Hand the money back," they demanded. The guys from the press weren't having any of it either. "Matas wanted to cheat the citizens of the Balearics," said an editorial in the paper "Ultima Hora". The prosecutors were also unimpressed, or rather they were highly impressed - by the list of charges they had brought. 68 years they called for. And a 3 million euro bail. Do we hear any higher bids? Strange system that makes these sorts of demands and seems to also make celebrities of the prosecutors and magistrates. Even the left-wing is uneasy that the bail request is because Jaime, Jaume is a politician. The magistrate said he'd pronounce on the bail terms on Monday, when will start another day, another week in the story of corrupt political folk in Mallorca - allegedly and never forgetting that this isn't actually the full trial.



Undercover in Muro
On a sort of legally related matter and offering a twist to the idea of plain-clothed police, the local plod in Muro are having to go out on patrol in their own clothes because the town hall is apparently not providing uniforms. The mayor is suggesting that it's all a question of tightening belts, as in the town hall hasn't got any money (except to buy the bull-ring of course), and that the police will get the clothes if necessary. To which one might ask, what constitutes "necessary"? Bizarre situation.


QUIZ:
Yesterday: Clannad, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5orfCHMmM8.

Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.