One of the commission agents asked for a medal from the Madrid City Council for his efforts: “We were the fastest.”

Businessman Alberto Lucenzio, who was being investigated by an anti-corruption prosecutor for taking a five-million-euro commission to buy masks and other health products at the worst moment of the pandemic, arrived at the request of the Madrid City Council. Medal for his work. Just a year ago, on April 14, 2021, in a statement to the prosecutor, Luceno assured him that he was seeking recognition because the Chinese businessmen with whom he himself had contracted with the council were “the fastest and the goods were served on Sunday.”

The request was made via WhatsApp audio, which Luceno sent to Elena Kolado, the city council’s procurement officer, during negotiations on the donation of masks by the commission’s businessmen. “Now I owe a medal, a civilian medal will be good for me,” the businessman told a senior Consistory official, led by Jose Luis Martინnez-Almeida of PP.

The audio access to this newspaper suggests that Lucienio was joking. But when he demands this confession during his declaration before the prosecutor, the businessman insists that he was serious. “In some of your messages you say or mention, I do not know if you are joking or not, what do you expect or do you think you would deserve a medal from the Madrid City Council, a civil recognition,” the prosecutor reminded him with hints. An audio message sent by WhatsApp.

“Yes. Because of the purchase and because it serves one week. Because they were the only ones. Elena signs a contract with me at two or three in the morning after a great deal of effort. The medal is because the fastest people actually moved in and delivered the goods in a week, ”Luceno replied.

“This is how you work in international trade”

Asked how the millionaires’ commissions were set for him and Luis Medina, who were receiving a total of six million euros for their contracts at the beginning of the pandemic, Luceno explained to the prosecutor: “It’s going to happen. Rear. The commission on a product worth one euro is not the same as 20 or 30. When I am already talking to Elena. [Collado] And I say, “Here, sign the contract, because if not, the price fluctuation operation can not be paralyzed, the moment the contract is already signed, I send it to Leno. [la empresa asiática con la que trabajaron] The contract is signed and before payment is when I talk to Leno. What do I get from this surgery? Well, from this operation you have, to be an agent, so much money. “We have reached an agreement and this is how it is fixed.”

According to him, after he had a “fixed price”, he talked to Medina and said, “You are so recognized by this operation.” “This is how you work in international trade,” he told the prosecutor. “Or what about Leno, who sets up his commission and Mr. Medina?” A public ministry spokesman asked afterwards. In my case, yes, it’s Leno. Mr. Medina does not know what I am charging, nor does Elena [Collado] He knows what I’m doing because he is setting himself up as an agent. “Since I am doing my job as an agent, I am fixing my commission on Leno,” Lucieno replied. “Are you fixing this with Leno?” – the prosecutor claims. “Okay, Leno is with me,” the businessman replies.

Asked what terms he agreed with Medina on what his commission should have been, Lucieno claims he told the Fair Duke’s son that he intended to identify the bite as a “passing contact”, indicating to the Madrid City Council. . “They did not leave any money, not even an approximate amount,” the prosecutor added, reminding him that in his statement, Medina “said that what they left” was “about a third of what they took.” “Third Leno, third you and third Mr. Medina,” he tells the businessman.

“It’s wrong. Leno gets nothing. “It does not pass by a third,” Luceno replied. “Is what Medina said wrong?” Then asks the prosecutor. “It’s wrong. Commission means seller because I am the seller’s agent. When an operation is performed, they say: “I have a higher percentage of this operation because I spoke very well, I have less in it, because I negotiated worse,” he justifies.

“Recommendations” of the Paris Chamber of Commerce.

Luciano claims that his efforts “always” follow “the recommendations of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and not the commitments”, which says that “one person can never take more than 50% of the operation” in commissions. “Where is it written like that?” Have you collected [la recomendación? ¿Es pública? ¿Se lo han dicho verbalmente?”, se interesó entonces el fiscal. “Verbal siempre”, reconoce el empresario. “Recomienda que los agentes nunca se lleven más de un 50%”, insiste. 

A continuación, sin embargo, el fiscal recuerda a Luceño un contrato por el que tanto él como Medina se llevaron cuatro millones. “En este caso, cuatro millones, que son las comisiones del señor Medina y usted, ¿qué porcentaje supone sobre 6.600.000 dólares?”, pregunta el ministerio público. “Un 45%”, responde el empresario. “¿Cuatro millones sobre seis millones sescientos? Es más de la mitad, perdone que le diga”, insiste el fiscal. “Se lo voy a enseñar. De las máscaras, se reconoce un 44,85%. Es decir, yo reconozco un 44,85%”, apunta entonces Luceño. “¿Y el señor Medina?”, pregunta el fiscal. “Reconoce su porcentaje”, se limita a asegurar el comisionista.