In Lleida, a man wanted by authorities is accused of using the same alleged method in two separate business deals, one involving Lleida CF and another involving hotel owners on the Costa Brava. Joseph Edward Fernandez Garcia is said to have presented false documents while posing as an investor.
According to reports, Fernandez Garcia faces an arrest warrant from the Provincial Court of Barcelona. He allegedly introduced himself as a French investor with a British passport, claimed links to the hotel sector, and offered to take on Lleida CF's debt of more than €5 million, a burden that had pushed the club close to liquidation.
Marc Torres, assistant to the club's president, announced the supposed investor on 13 May. A week later, he said the deal was a scam. Mossos d'Esquadra detained Fernandez Garcia after Lleida CF reported irregularities in the takeover bid.
Reports from El Español say Fernandez Garcia had also contacted hotel owners on the Costa Brava through a Madrid-based intermediary firm. He allegedly posed as a buyer and showed what appeared to be legitimate banking documents, which led the owners to pay for a property valuation.
After the technical report was paid for, he withdrew the purchase offer without explanation. In both cases, the reported deal never went ahead and appears to have been used as a pretext to obtain money from the victims. The agreement with Lleida CF was said to involve financial support for seven years.
The case now moves to the courts and investigators, who are expected to examine the full scope of the alleged fraud. For related coverage, see our news page.