Photo Courtesy – Vozpópuli
The National Court of Spain has sentenced former ambassador to Venezuela, Raúl Morodo, to 10 months in prison, while his son, Alejo Morodo, received a two-year sentence after reaching an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office. Both acknowledged their involvement in a scheme to evade taxes by using a network of shell companies to hide profits derived from the Venezuelan state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). This information is provided by El País.
The case centers on the legal advisory and international consulting services that Alejo Morodo provided to PDVSA between 2007 and 2014, following his father’s departure as ambassador during the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. According to the investigation, these consultancies, funneled through two companies, reported revenues of €6.6 million, despite a lack of evidence for the actual provision of services.
Alejo Morodo brokered his commissions from PDVSA with two Chavista ministers
To lower his tax burden, Alejo Morodo developed a system in which these gains were declared under the Corporate Tax, which is less burdensome than the Personal Income Tax (IRPF). A portion of these funds ended up integrated into the personal wealth of Raúl Morodo, who also concealed them from the Spanish tax authorities.
The sentence condemns both for offenses against the Public Treasury. This ruling emphasizes the legal ramifications of using fraudulent corporate structures and the diversion of resources from foreign state-owned enterprises. The case also highlights how international political and business relationships can lead to tax evasion schemes.
This conviction concludes a chapter that reveals the connection between Spanish political and business figures with illicit activities linked to PDVSA, during a critical time for the Venezuelan company, which has historically been marked by corruption cases.