Police arrest Josep Maria Bartomeu; his house was also searched

The week has started strong for a Barcelona that looks to the return of the Copa del Rey. This Monday, the police went to the club's offices to make a search.

The news was advanced by 'Cadena SER' and confirmed by media such as 'Mundo Deportivo', and it is that from the first hour of the day investigation work is being carried out, so part of the offices were closed to facilitate the work to the Mossos d'Esquadra in search of more evidence and documentation.

Radio station 'COPE' indicated that the police found few employees and that, in addition, they have summoned several executives who were involved in the case to go to the club's offices. During the search, arrests were not ruled out, as there are two alleged crimes under investigation. One for unfair administration and another for corruption between individuals.

In fact, several hours later, CEO Óscar Grau and Román Gómez Ponti, director of Legal Services, were the first to be arrested.

As confirmed by the 'SER', the former president of Barcelona, ​​Josep Maria Bartomeu, was the next to be arrested by the police after the searches in the Barcelona offices, in addition to Jaume Masferrer, who was his personal advisor. There are four detainees so far.

According to Anna Punsi, 'SER' a specialist on how courts work, these arrests were decided by the Catalan police, not by the judge Alejandra Gil so they seem to be more formal arrests. 

Bartomeu's house was also searched

According to the document which 'La Vanguardia' journalist Toni Munoz has access to, the judge ordered the homes of Josep Maria Bartomeu and Juame Masferrer to be searched. However, she did not order their arrest. The headquarters of 'I3 Ventures', 'Nicestream' and 'Telam partners S.L.' have also been searched. 

 

March 1, 2021

Where are those arrested now?

The CEO, Oscar Grau and Gomez Ponti are being held by police in Barcelona's offices while former president Bartomeu is reportedly in Les Corts police station. The first two are reportedly giving statement in the club's offices.