The judge rejects Mazón's request to join the dana case
The former Valencian president, to whom the magistrate reminds him that he has the status of a witness, could appeal the decision before the Provincial Court
BarcelonaThe judge of the DANA, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, says 'no' to Carlos Mazón. The magistrate has rejected the request of the former Valencian president to appear in the case in which she is investigating the management of the heavy rainfall, according to has advanced El Levante and has been confirmed by the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV). The former head of the Consell, to whom the judge replies that appearing is incompatible with his condition as a witness - she herself summoned him to testify, although she has not yet set the date-, could now appeal the decision before the Provincial Court, according to the aforementioned newspaper.
Tobarra argues in her ruling, disseminated by the Efe agency, that the former president's requested appearance could only be based "on Mazón's willingness to admit participation" in the homicides and reckless injuries that took place on the fateful October 29, or on the fact that when testifying as a witness he has "the obligation to tell the truth" and he estimates that this "ineluctably implies the assumption of criminal responsibilities".
By appearing, Mazón sought to have access to all the information from the judicial investigation, which at every step has been narrowing the circle around him. In the event that his request, currently rejected by the judge, were to be accepted, it would also open the door for him to try to influence the investigation of the case, for example, to try to have proceedings rejected, experts recused, or precautionary measures requested.
In statements this Tuesday from the Valencian Courts, where he still holds his seat as a deputy, and after his request became known on Monday, Mazón has defended his "right" to be formally an interested party in the case to "know" whether or not he is being investigated. "I want to know if I am being investigated or not. I believe I have the right to know it," he declared, recalling that the Superior Court of Justice rejected Tobarra's request to indict him in the case.
In the brief filed on his behalf by lawyer Ignacio Gally, it was indeed pointed out that the TSJPV ruling was the reason for his involvement. The lawyer argued that the former president had maintained a position of "maximum respect" towards the investigation of the case up to now, despite having "indirect knowledge" of actions being taken that "directly affected his legal sphere." However, he added that, after a ruling against his investigation, he requested "voluntary involvement" to "analyze the proceedings that are still being carried out against him."
Singled out for the disinformation of the tragedy
The reality is that, as the judicial investigation of the dana progresses, there are increasingly more indications pointing to Mazón's responsibilities. This past Tuesday, the deputy director of Emergencies of the Generalitat Valenciana, Jorge Suárez, declared before the judge that the "Presidency of the Generalitat Valenciana" requested the copy of the call between an Aemet worker and a 112 technician from the day of the dana, which was subsequently manipulated and leaked by the PP to the press.
Suárez made this declaration as a witness before the investigating court 6 of Llíria, which is investigating the audio leak after the complaint filed by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). In the leaked audio fragment, which the PP used to accuse the Agency of not providing all the information on the day of the tragedy, it could be heard how the Agency's technicians downplayed the importance of the alerts issued by the cold drop. Despite this, the complete recording was later disseminated, clarifying that the red alert would be maintained and warning of the meteorological situation that would come towards the afternoon, especially in the northern zone of Valencia.