Zapatero seeks witnesses in Plus Ultra investigation

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is reportedly holding private meetings in Madrid to seek witnesses and prepare a defense regarding an investigation into the airline Plus Ultra. The probe focuses on an alleged 1% payment, described by some as a “mordida” (bribe), which may have been intended to influence certain management actions related to the airline.

Parallel to these investigations, financial records show significant wealth growth for Gerencia Deep, a real estate company owned by Simon Verhoeven. Verhoeven, a Dutch businessman and lender to Plus Ultra, is also under investigation in international probes involving alleged money laundering.

Verhoeven’s company saw its tangible fixed assets grow from 1,500 euros in 2020 to 500,000 euros in 2022, a massive increase coinciding with the period surrounding the Spanish government's 53 million euro bailout of Plus Ultra. The bailout, approved in March 2021 via SEPI, included 34 million euros in participatory loans and 19 million euros in ordinary loans.