Millet explains the “3%”
Former head of the Palau de la Música says Ferrovial paid commissions which he forwarded to Convergència in exchange for public works contracts
Felix Millet showed yesterday that as the former head of the Palau de la Música, and aware that Gemma Montull and her father had reached an agreement with the prosecutor, he wanted to be the first to detonate the controlled bomb in the Court of Barcelona: “Ferrovial made donations to the Palau de la Música for CDC in exchange for public works.” Gemma Montull later confirmed the alleged illegal financing of Convergència, the famous 3% from Ferrovial that the party has always denied.
Despite insistent questioning by the prosecutor, neither Millet nor Montull revealed any names of those involved on the part of CDC apart from those already known, the former party treasurers Carles Torrent, who died in 2005, and Daniel Osácar, also sitting on the bench of the accused. In exchange for their testimony, it is most likely the prosecution will ask for a reduction in the heavy sentences so far on the judge's bench.
Millet outlined a system whereby the construction company Ferrovial paid a commission of 4% in return for the awarding of public works. Of that, 1.5% was shared by Millet and his right-hand man, Jordi Montull, and the remaining 2.5% was paid to the coffers of CDC by various methods.
The prosecutor was careful to avoid certain aspects relating to other ongoing investigations involving the former Catalan justice minister Germà Gordo as that may have created cause to change the nature of those investigations. Millet also refused to answer questions from the defence lawyers representing other defendants. In his admission, Millet recognised having made “poor decisions” in taking commissions.