The trial in the Catalan branch of the Efial case will begin at Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, the National Court, in Madrid on Monday 28 September 2026. Nearly 20 people, including former mayors from L'Ametlla de Mar, Torredembarra, Ascó and Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, are accused in connection with alleged unlawful municipal contracting and misuse of public funds.

For residents of the affected Tarragona municipalities, the case concerns public money allegedly diverted through consultancy work and municipal companies. The alleged fraud identified by the investigation totals more than €8 million, with L'Ametlla de Mar and Tortosa participating in the proceedings as private prosecutors seeking to recover losses.

Allegations centre on consultancy contracts

According to the investigation by Central Investigating Court No. 4, consultancy Efial provided services to several councils which allegedly allowed decisions by municipal financial controllers and secretaries to be overridden. Investigators said this resulted in contracts allegedly being signed unlawfully.

The investigation found that Efial’s work could "contradict" assessments already issued by councils’ oversight bodies, according to the court investigation reported by Europa Press.

The defendants include Efial founder Antonio Martos and former mayors Andreu Martí of L'Ametlla de Mar, Daniel Masagué of Torredembarra, Rafael Vidal of Ascó, and Josep Jaume Castellnou of Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant. They are accused of offences including administrative misconduct and misuse of public funds. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The investigation attributed the following alleged losses to municipalities in Tarragona province:

  • L'Ametlla de Mar: €4,585,746
  • Ascó: €2,023,143
  • Tortosa: €1,055,130
  • Torredembarra: €504,321
  • Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant: €199,800
  • Cambrils: €13,700

L'Ametlla de Mar and Tortosa seek compensation

L'Ametlla de Mar and Tortosa are the two councils acting as private prosecutors. The Tortosa council has said it aims to recover financial losses linked to alleged irregular contracts between 2008 and 2012 involving its municipal companies GUMTSA and Tortosasport.

Its estimate of the alleged loss is €1.6 million. The broader investigation also examined contracts in other Catalan municipalities, although the alleged fraud detailed for this trial is concentrated in Tarragona province.

A court order reported by Europa Press scheduled hearings for 28, 29 and 30 September, 1 October, 13 to 15 October, and 26 to 29 October 2026. The final hearings are due to be held at the Audiencia Nacional’s San Fernando de Henares premises, near Madrid.

Reported by diaridetarragona.com, ara.cat, europapress.es, ARA, ona-latorre.cat, vilaweb.cat, per gfigueres, diarimes.com, diaripublic.cat, reusdigital.cat.