Republished April 18, 2017 - 6:16 AM
Original Publication Date April 18, 2017 - 5:21 AM
MADRID - Spain's National Court says Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will be called as a witness in the trial of some 40 people involved in an alleged kickbacks-for-contracts scheme that helped finance his ruling Popular Party.
The court said Tuesday that Rajoy would testify in his role as party secretary-general between 2003 and 2004, when the alleged illegal financing scheme was still operating.
It is not clear if Rajoy must testify in person or in written form. A date for his testimony has yet to be set.
On trial are former party treasurers and mid-ranking officials as well as business representatives.
Accused longtime party treasurer Luis Barcenas says there was always a scheme of illegal contributions to the party and that top officials were aware.
Rajoy and the party deny his claims.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017