Luis Medina, featured prominently as one of the defendants in the 'mask case' trial, has recently testified, placing the blame for the purported fraud squarely on his co-accused, Alberto Luceño. This trial focuses on allegations of cheating the Municipality of Madrid during the pandemic concerning the sale of masks.
During his testimony, Medina claimed it was Luceño who determined the prices of the masks, asserting, "we could not have anticipated this." The aristocrat, who took home one million euros from the deal, emphasized the financial arrangements were initiated by the Malaysian company involved, and he never directly communicated with the supplier, Leno. "You should direct your questions to Alberto (Luceño)," Medina remarked when questioned about his role.
Medina painted the backdrop of the situation by describing the market as "broken" due to overwhelming demand and insufficient supply during the onset of the pandemic. He noted, "There were high commissions because of the acute shortages, and transactions varied widely. There was no standard during this period." His co-accused Luceño stands to face much more severe consequences, being charged with stealing five million euros from the operation, which had prompted the prosecution to seek 15 years of imprisonment for him compared to nine years for Medina.
Further details of the case emerged as Medina affirmed he had no pre-existing agreements about the commission structure with Luceño, stipulating their discussions were centered on hypothetical distributions of money after the sale. He asserted his satisfaction with the one million euros he received, stating, "With what I received, I was satisfied." Medina’s financial actions, such as purchasing properties and high-end luxury cars with the proceeds, have also been spotlighted. Luceño's lavish expenditures included buying luxury vehicles and lavish properties, which starkly contrasts Medina's more limited investments.
On the personal front, Medina’s girlfriend, Clara Caruana, has been seen supporting him throughout the trial. Their relationship has drawn media attention, especially since Caruana, the granddaughter of nobility, has accompanied Medina on significant days during the trial. She showed her support by donning formal attire to court, reflecting the seriousness of the proceedings.
Caruana, who has anchored her professional life as a manager and project manager within healthcare, met Medina during the pandemic. Their connection blossomed during tough times, and she has become his steadfast support as they navigate these challenging circumstances together.
During the trial, Medina reiterated specific assertions made to Elena Collado, the Madrid Municipality's head of purchasing during the pandemic, stating they had made it clear they were there to facilitate the mask deliveries. He consistently emphasized he did not discuss any kind of gratuity related to commissions, confident his role was merely as a facilitator rather than one negotiating the deal terms. "I never communicated with Leno about prices or commissions because they were not established until after sales were completed," he noted.
Medina also defended his conduct, acknowledging the unusual market dynamics at the time yet maintaining they were operating above board. He claimed the urgency and chaos of the pandemic dynamic influenced the typical business protocols and practices for procurement, leading to confusion.
The court also heard testimony from tax inspectors who indicated discrepancies in Luceño's financial reporting, including claims about the mismanagement of commission payments for tax purposes. Both defendants face serious accusations and possible sentences for their alleged roles in this extensive scheme.
The prosecution has amassed overwhelming evidence against both parties, with various testimonies from former associates and financial auditors expected to bolster the case against them. The high-profile nature of the trial has captivated the media and public, with scrutiny surrounding their lives and the financial motivations behind these actions.
Moving forward, Luceño is scheduled to testify, and many are waiting to see if this will corroborate Medina's accounts or unravel additional complications.