Spanish Audit Court Investigates Madrid's 6.3 Million Euro Penthouse Purchase

Spain's Court of Auditors has ordered an investigation into the purchase of a luxury penthouse in Madrid by Planifica Madrid, a public company dependent on the Community of Madrid. The court found indications of possible harm to public funds and decided to move the case to the adjudication section.

The operation dates back to April 14, when Planifica Madrid formalized the purchase of the property for 6.3 million euros. The penthouse is located on the top floor of a building at number 35 on General Martínez Campos Street and covers approximately 485 square meters, including about 199 square meters of terrace.

“Public actors and complainants have provided sufficient indicative elements to consider that the acquisition of the questioned property in this public action could have caused real and effective damage to the public coffers of the Community of Madrid.”

Complaints allege that the purchase was made without sufficient prior justification, without a prior needs file, and without adequately proving the property's link to the company's public purposes. They also claim the property was bought at a price above market value.

The Community of Madrid and Planifica Madrid requested that the proceedings be archived, arguing that the purchase fully complied with legality and the company's statutes. They stated the acquisition was within the company's purpose and corresponded to market value.

The Court of Auditors rejected the request to archive the case, stating that the reported facts do not allow ruling out possible accounting liability. The court will now investigate the alleged irregularities and determine whether accounting responsibilities can be derived.

Up to five complaints were filed on August 3, September 1, and September 30. The court's interlocutory decision notes that public actors and complainants provided sufficient indicative elements to consider that the acquisition may have caused real and effective damage to the public coffers of the Community of Madrid.