Madrid ‘lawyer’ scandal probed

Madrid – A Spanish university, already accused of gifting degrees to high-profile politicians, is also being probed for allegedly giving diplomas to hundreds of Italian nationals, a court spokesperson said on Thursday.

A court in Madrid is investigating whether around 500 Italians received express law diplomas from the King Juan Carlos University. The Italians were granted degrees, despite having little knowledge of Spanish, according to media reports.

In a scandal dubbed “Mastergate”, the university already faces claims of gifting degrees to politicians by allegedly awarding them good grades without them turning up for class.

The allegations have forced the resignation of Cristina Cifuentes, former head of the Madrid region, in April and ex-health minister Carmen Monton earlier this month. The new leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), Pablo Casado, has a Master’s degree from the university and is also under fire.

The spokesperson said the latest probe was at an “early stage”.

He said the Italians were thought to have used the degrees to sign up to the Bar Association of Madrid (ICAM) and possibly that of other Spanish cities.

With the diploma – a validation of a bachelor’s degree already done in Italy – and the bar association, they could then practice law in all European Union member states, according to online daily Eldiario.es. This allows aspiring lawyers in Italy to get around the expensive master’s degree usually required in their home country.

Citing sources close to the probe, the website said the Italian nationals would make “express” trips to Madrid to pass exams without knowing much Spanish, sometimes taking in a Real Madrid game while there.

In a statement, the Bar Association of Madrid said the case was not “attributable to ICAM but to the King Juan Carlos University” and the government.

Since the “Mastergate” scandal broke, the university has closed its Institute of Public Law and filed a complaint for alleged misuse of funds involving former director Enrique Alvarez Conde.

Spanish radio Cadena Ser has also revealed Alvarez and his deputy allegedly received unexplained cash of close to €200 000 (R3.3 million) between 2012 and May this year. –