Thirteen Years Later and the Crime of Soldeu Remains Unresolved

www.elperiodic.ad DIMARTS, 10 DE JULIOL DEL 2018 el Periòdic d’Andorra 15

CONEIXEMENT SOBRE

d'Andorra L’ÚS DE LES TECNOLOGIES elelENGLISHTema PeriòdicPeriòdic del EDITION dia NewsW E D 1xx 8 JUSTICE Thirteen years later and the crime of Soldeu remains unresolved The Superior dismisses the Prosecutor’s Office, The court considers that there is not enough confirms the acquittal of the alleged murderer evidence to condemn him to 30 years in prison

TONY LARA EL PERIÒDIC ANDORRA LA VELLA @PeriodicAND he crime in Soldeu remains unresolved after the Crimi- nal and Superior Court (sala Tpenal del Tribunal Superior) dis- missed the appeal that had been filed by the Fiscal Ministry and confirmed the sentence of April 18 in which Corts absolved - for lack of evidence - The only accused of murdering a Rus- sian businessman in December 2004 at a hotel in Soldeu. The alleged perpetrator, a man of Israeli nationality but of Ukrainian origin who was detained at the same day of the events and then was in cus- tody for a whole year, did not appear in the trial held in the Superior in Ju- ne nor before the court of first instance which had taken place at the end of last year. The defense lawyer explained that his client had no money to travel to Andorra and that he suffe- red from a disease. The Prosecutor’s Two police officers enter the building of the Headquarters of Justice in Tarragona Avenue, Andorra la Vella. Office had demanded the maximum 33 penalty for a major crime of murder: trial of the Superior, the lawyer alle- up to 30 years in prison, considering The defense clings ged that they were faced with an «ap- key facts that the crime had been carried out on to the confession parently brilliant» operation becau- with premeditation, treason and a video of the russian se the supposed author was arrested December 2004: a December 2017: the reward. The events happened more only six hours after the crime but that cold night in Soldeu arrival of the trial than thirteen years ago, on Decem- mafia claiming they were it was actually «an error». They had 1 2 ber 16, 2004, when a 48-year-old Rus- responsable of the acts convicted his client «without inves- On the night of December 16 and 17of Almost thirteen years after the crime, sian tourist who was in the Principa- tigating anything else.» According to 2004, the alleged murderer entered the the Court of Corts celebrated the tri- lity with his lover was surprised at the the defense lawyer, the alleged crimi- room at the hotel in Soldeu where a Rus- al in which the alleged criminal was ac- hotel room in Soldeu where he stayed lity hired as a hitman by the Russian nal was in the Principality because he sian businessman was staying at and the cused of murder. However, neither the at.When a stranger with a balaclava Mafia to commit the crime. In additi- had been hired as security personnel man stabbed him twice once in his chest alleged author nor a sixth of the witnes- attacked him andstabbed him in the on, he recalled that the knife used as in a Russian congress. and another to the abdomen, which ki- ses were considered to be key factors chest and abdomen. The police, after a weapon had been bought in local ar- In addition, when his client was lled him within minutes. in the case. finding a bag with clothes and the we- mory, as declared by the salesperson in preventive detention, a video of apon from the crime in a drum very who sold it. Even so, it could never be the Russian mafia emerged and was close to the hotel, found the alleged confirmed that the DNA that was present to the Andorran authorities in April 2018: July 2018: Tribunal criminal in the same establishment. sent in the scraper used to force the October 2005 claiming that they we- 3e xculpation 4Superior door open coincided with that of the re responsible of the murder. Howe- PROOF During the hearing of the Su- killer because it did not allow the test ver, according to the police, the Guàr- The court of first instance issued the ru- Although the Prosecutor’s Office ap- perior,/ the Prosecutor’s Office poin- to be practiced. The public prosecutor dia Civil, the video had the intention ling on April 18 and decided to absolve pealed the ruling of Corts and during ted out that there were «sufficient evi- also reiterated that the forensics as- of manipulating the case and that is the defendant in considering that the- the trial held at the Superior reiterated dence» to deny the presumption of in- serted that the wounds of the victim why the Prosecutor’s Office did not re was insufficient evidence to declare in the arguments that indicated the cul- nocence that had prevailed by Corts were expressly made to kill. On the ot- give them any credibility. Even so, the to release the Israeli’s responsibiliti- her hand, the defense lawyer claimed defense lawyer used it to claim that him guilty and to condemn him to thirty pability of the accused, the court dis- es. The Fiscal Ministry believes that that the evidence demonstrated that there was a confessed author and mo- years of jail time as demanded by the missed his appeal and confirmed the the accused had come to the Principa- his client was innocent. During the re research had to be done.. Fiscal Ministry. acquittal of the alleged killer. H 2 www.elperiodic.ad WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 2018 el Periòdic News

POLITICS

titutional subject, the ambassador highlighted the visit of the King. The Alliance: Andorra and Spain King of Spain, thanked Martí for their confidence and power of the de- cision in the vote in favor of Andor- ra to host the Ibero-American Sum- mit in 2020. Although Martí will no celebrate 25 years of relations longer be the head of the Executive MARICEL BLANCH , he wanted to point out that it will Spanish support in be an event of utmost importance in which «the voice of Andorra will feel bilateral, European and strong in a continent that has many Ibero-American relations opportunities.» Regarding the gre-

EL PERIÒDIC ANDORRA LA VELLA Ubach will present @PeriodicAND the voluntary report in esterday, the governments of Andorra and Spain ha- relation to the fulfillment ve published a joint state- of the SDGs of the UN Yment on the occasion of for the year 2030 the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries. In the statement, the States at weight of the Spanish economy emphasize the traditional unders- in the country, Martí described it as tanding and close cooperation in «positive» but wished that the eco- various fields, such as health, en- nomic openness brings more sove- vironment, security or transport. reignty. The joint declaration also highlig- hts, in particular, the intensifica- UBACH AND BORRELL IN NEW YORK On The Spanish ambassador and the head of government, in the lobby of the General Council. tion of the solid cooperation main- the occasion of the High Level Forum/ 33 tained so far in the international on Development that will take place arena, as shown by Spain’s support sample of the Andorran euro coins. THE SPANISH SUPPORT Montobbio wan- has done: «The transformations are tomorrow in New York, Foreign Mi- for the development of the relati- The lobby of the General Council ted to highlight the/ evolution of An- from Andorra, but we have a special nister Maria Ubach will meet with ons between Andorra and the EU has hosted another inauguration dorra in recent years, especially in responsibility as resident ambassa- the new Foreign Minister of the Spa- and the continuing presence of the with the exhibition of the 25 years the international economic appro- dors» he said. In the future, Montob- nish government, Josep Borrell. The Principality in the Ibero-American of stamps from the Spanish Courier val and its process of fiscal opening bio raised new challenges beyond aim of the meeting is to continue space . All this is part of the series in Andorra, which was attended by towards transparency. According the triple relations and emphasized promoting the good relations betwe- of celebrations that began on the the general vice-general, Vicenç Ma- to the ambassador, the association the development of relations between the two countries, although for 4th of June with a commemorati- teu, the head of Government, Toni agreement in the EU will be «an his- en both States and from each soci- Martí the most transcendental issu- ve event organized by the embassy Martí and the ambassador of Spain, torical point of reference». He emp- ety in it’s full potential, since «An- es are the GPS of the Andorra-La Seu of Andorra in Madrid, at the Natio- Manuel Montobbio, among other hasized the role of «understanding, dorra is not known equally in all the Airport or better coordination with nal Factory of Currency, to open a diplomatic authorities. explanation and support» that Spain Spanish territory». As a pending ins- the Spanish educational system. H

HOUSING

PS The PS thinks that it is necessary to put a stop to increase in rents The group presents an less» and to «want to play with peo- empty floors that are for sale or ad- ple’s suffering. vertised in a real estate are exempt amendment against the Among the measures proposed by from paying the new tax. Thus, ac- housing law the executive is the creation of a ra- cording to Lopez, anyone could get te that will record the empty floors. rid of paying tribute to selling unoc- EL PERIÒDIC «It’s a voluntary rate that has a thou- cupied housing at such a high pri- ANDORRA LA VELLA sand escape routes» recalled the Ge- ce that nobody would be willing to The PS considers that it «makes no neral Counsel. The text provides that buy it.» sense» to offer tax reductions to new Sánchez, on the left and López on the right, at the press conference. promotions of buildings that are PROPERTY REGISTRATION «It is not a law 33 allocated to the lease without set- that serves to solve the/ problem of ting a target on the prices of rents or housing» said López. What the PS ket but of access to the market.» The phenomenon that is occuring in the without linking these quotas to the CARLES SÀNCHEZ proposes is, above all, creating a pro- Social Democrat criticized that, at center of Andorra, layers with less index of the minimum wage. This is ORGANISATION SECRETARY PS perty record. Carles Sànchez, secre- the moment apartments are not af- income are being replaced by layers one of the criticisms with which the tary of the organization party, stres- fordable for the majority of the po- with higher income. On the other Social Democrats argue the amend- «The problem is not sed the importance of this tool be- pulation. «This law is a missed op- hand, the PS considers that there ment to the totality that they have from the housing cause it «would allow more control portunity» sentenced Sanchez, re- are elements of the law that can le- filed against the housing omnibus market but from access over the amount of flats intended for ferring to the fact that the measures ad to an increase in prices and the- law, driven by DA. Pere López, presi- rent.» Sanchez pointed out that high «do not focus on the problem» or go refore be counterproductive, refe- dent of the formation, described the to the market and rental prices and the lack of housing to the root. The organizing secretary ring to the possibility of billing servi- law processed as «mean» and «heart- unreasonable prices» to lease «is not a problem of the mar- also mentioned the gentrification ces apart or community expenses. H

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PLATFORM IN SOLDEU INCREASE OF 0.4% Fuel, housing Martí announces conversations and food to save the Grandvalira brand place the ANA / C.G. The president of the nal image of this platform, as it has CPI at 1.9% been presented on several occasions, Principality believes the will not have any modifications, nor EL PERIÒDIC brand can still be saved to its volume will be affected. ESCALDES-ENGORDANY Returning to the event of the Fuel, housing and food have ta- World Cup, the general director of ken the CPI of June to 1.9%, four MIQUEL LÓPEZ-EGEA the organizing committee has an- tenths more than in May. The ESCALDES-ENGORDANY nounced that the inauguration will constant increase in the price @PeriodicAND take place on March 12 at Soldeu, of fuel has had a repercussion oni Martí, hopes there will which will feature a mapping, a lig- in the transport sector, which be a possible ‘reconciliation’ ht and sound show and fireworks. has had a positive change of in Grandvalira, between En- Fans can also see it from screens that 4.7% (1.2 points higher than re- Tsisa and Saetde. Martí has an- will be installed in Andorra la Vella corded in May). The price of gas, nounced, for the end of July and Au- «to bring the event» to the whole co- other fuels and electricity have gust, talks between all parties becau- untry. The draw of jerseys, will be led to a rise in the housing secti- se «a brand of international prestige held in Canillo at an outdoor event. on of 2.3% (0.4 tenths above the will not be lost» at the end of next ye- Starting September, the adverti- month of May). Foods have al- ar. It is his responsibility as head of sing campaign for the finals will be- so experienced a notable incre- government, he added, and therefo- gin, especially in Spain and France. ase with 2.5% (0.9 tenths higher re the executive’s goal is to contribu- A video game will also be launched than the month of May). Toni Martí, contemplates the state of construction works in Soldeu. te to an understanding throughout to emulate skiers. Finally, Blanch re- Annual inflation accumula- 33 this summer. ported that in October, members of ted in the first six months of the An understanding that allows the changes that have been applied the International Ski Federation will year stood at 0.7%. On the other the World Cup to be held, which will The platform of in the «constructive model» and that come to the country to do «the final hand, core inflation —the one take place on the tracks Avet (sector Soldeu, which has they have «improved» the final re- exam» of the facilities and sign the that does not include the pri- of Soldeu) and Àliga (sector of el Tar- sult. The model has been modified, contract that confirms that Andorra ces of energy products (oil) or ter), from March 11 to 17, 2019 and begun its final phase, replacing the pillars inclined by one will host one of its most important unprocessed foods (harvests)— to not be the last big event of Grand- will be finished by the of the support cables. The reason is sports events in history. stands at an annual rate of 0.4% valira as a unique brand. An event that if the first option was to be cho- The new president of the Interna- compared to the same month of for which there are eight months re- end of November sen, some «mammoth foundation tional Ski Federation, Josep Pintat, the year 2017. maining and are ahead of the dead- structures» had to be built. In addi- has trusted that the finals will ha- H lines, said the mayor of Canillo and se, will be finished by the end of No- tion, a «serious environmental pro- ve an Andorran presence, in the te- chair of the organizing committee vember. blem» could have been produced be- am and the supporters. There are of these parties, Josep Mandicó. He Regarding the construction of cause they would have had to build skiers who «have options to be the- SPANISH BORDER has guaranteed, regarding all of the this platform, the general director a platform over the river and would re», but will depend on the work do- preparation and the platform of Sol- of the organizing committee of the have affected the forest, Blanch ex- ne during the season and possible deu, which has begun its final pha- World Cup, Conrad Blanch, spoke of plained. He indicated that the exter- injuries. 21,000 euros H impounded CITIZEN COMPLAINTS at the ‘Farga ment the incorporation of thirteen Complaints to the CASS are pays for retirees. «The pensioners did de Moles’ not want the solidarity pension to re- ach the end of the month. Many have EL PERIÒDIC reduced by half in a year already won the right to live with dig- VALLS DE VALIRA SERGI PÉREZ nity at age 65 and had worked for the The Guàrdia Civil impounded EL PERIÒDIC country for more than 30 years, but last Friday a total amount of ESCALDES-ENGORDANY over the years, they had been losing 21,000 euros in foreign exchan- Complaints linked to the CASS we- it», the report points out. ge on the border of the Farga de re reduced by half from 2016 to last The other complaint that is repea- Moles. year. This is stated by the annual Re- ted over the years is linked to the pro- The agents stopped a vehicle port of the ‘Citizen’s Reasoning’ (Rao- cedures to get sick leave. After the me- that was circulating on the ‘Not- nador del Ciutadà), published Monday dical checks carried out by the doctors hing to declare’ lane. The driver, morning. The document contains a of the CASS, despite having indicated a Chinese man with residence in total of 34 files related to the parapu- that their illnesses still needed a dead- Barcelona, showed 8,600 euros. blic company. The same study menti- line for their recovery, a few days later Subsequently, the agents found ons the positive evolution in this sec- they would receive a statement from in the glove compartment 14,300 tor, since the previous year almost re- the CASS which informed that they euros. The offender was able to Main entrance of the CASS. ached seventy complaints. While the had already overcome the illness. continue the journey with a 33 2016 report highlighted the volume «This fact causes a discomfort to the thousand euros, as a «minimum of dissatisfied people with the treat- the records on the CASS is the amount problems» and one of them has to do citizen because when he presents the survival», with the remainder ment received by doctors or inspec- of citizens dissatisfied with pensions. with the purchasing power of pensio- administrative appeal, attaching me- kept in Customs of the Farga de tors, this year there have been only th- ners. The ‘Reasoning’ reminds them dical reports as they have not recove- Moles at the disposal of the Com- ree complaints for this reason. On the THE THIRTEENTH PAY FOR RETIREES The that they processed to the Legislative red, they are not taken into account», mission for the Prevention of Mo- other hand, the most striking among institution says there are «reiterative/ Commission on Health and Environ- the same report explains. ney Laundering. H H 4 www.elperiodic.ad WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 2018 el Periòdic News

BASKETBALL

part of the season, after coming back to the competition and recovering sensations». «We believe that he is a Colton Iverson signs with player that adapts perfectly to the ne- eds of the team. He is fast, very good in rebounds, plays well pick and roll si- tuations and is a great defender. It will Iberostar Tenerife be very important to take advantage of his physique», commented. «He has The player, which arrived in January to Andorra, will be at Vidorreta’s orders to play a leading role in our inner game, also formed by Sebas Saiz and Pe-

MATIN IMATGE/ BCA tit Niang, two physical and athletic EL PERIÒDIC players, like him, but with less expe- ANDORRA LA VELLA rience. We are very pleased that the @PeriodicAND agreement has been able to close so berostar Tenerife announced yesterday the signing of Colton Iverson, a centre player who has Iverson became a Iplayed at MoraBanc Andorra sin- key player of Joan ce January of this year, when he ca- me to the team to reinforce it. Iver- Peñarroya’s MoraBanc son signs for one season. and helped accomplish The player, who is 2.13 metres tall and is 29 years old, scored an average the team’s good results of 5.2 points per game with the Princi- pality team and managed to capture quickly and to have our inner game an average of 4.1 rebounds per match. sealed», he concluded. On the other In addition, he became an important hand, Aniano Cabream, the sports di- piece of the former tricolour coach, rector of the team, emphasized that Joan Peñarroya, to achieve the mag- «he is a well-trained player, already nificent sixth position in the regular consolidated in the Liga Endesa, with phase of the Liga Endesa. Colton Iver- experience and completely perfect son was coached at the universities to join the inside game of the team». of Minnesota and Colorado State and before coming to Andorra he played ANTONIO MARTÍN, NEW PRESIDENT ACB with Baskònia, Besiktas, Pinar Kar- The General Assembly of the ACB has/ siyaka and Macabbi Tel Aviv. In this elected unanimously Antonio Mar- way, the Canarian coach, Txus Vidor- tín as the new president of the en- reta, said that Colton Iverson was «an tity. Martín has a recognized profes- expert player, with three years of ex- sional career, both in basketball and perience in the Euroleague, who has in other business relationships with been able to help the Andorran team sport, technology, banking and tele- achieve very good results at the final Colton Iverson in Palau Blaugrana on the last game of the playoffs. vision. 33 H

BTT HOCKEY briefs

VALLNORD Andorra FAN wins against Switzerland by 2-3

EL PERIÒDIC LA CORUNYA Andorra begun the European Hockey Championship in la Co- runya, at Riazor, losing its first two matches of the competition against France by 6-0 on Monday and Portugal (11-0) on Sunday. Picture of the finals in Vallnord. However, yesterday the tricolour 33 Outstanding role of Andorran swimmers in Sevilla team played against Switzer- land on an exciting and difficult SWIMMING In this weekend’s Spanish Championship in Sevilla, Patrick Pe- Maximum excitement at game, which ended up winning legrina reached3 the 18th position in 200 m medley junior. In the 50 m bre- by 2-3 thanks to a goal on the last aststroke elite he placed 35th, in the 100 m junior he placed 12th and on 50 moments of the match. Today m freestyle junior, 34th. Lea Ricart placed 10th in the 50 m freestyle junior, the World Championship the Andorrans will be playing 27th in the 100 m and 9th in 100 m backstroke. Jordan Lecoq was 11th in 100 against Austria at 12.30 pm. m breaststroke junior and 12th in 200 m. Mònica Ramírez was 13th at 50 m A total of 13 riders will compete on the Championship as Regarding the first game, Cli- backstroke elite and 14th at 100 m. At 100 m freestyle, 45th. Also, Bernat Lo- ment Padrós, national coach, mero was 16th in 50 m elite butterfly and Tomàs Lomero placed 33rd at 50 m Andorran explained that Portugal is the junior, 24th at 100 m freestyle, 49th at 50 m butterfly elite and 27th at 100 m. current champion. «There are EL PERIÒDIC with an Andorran license will take four teams that are on the top, ESCALDES-ENGORDANY part on the downhill. These are: Lau- such as Italy, Portugal, Spain De la Casa masters The National Team will The World Championship of BTT be- rent Bourrelly, Ludwig Dingeldein, and France», he said. «We knew gan Monday with the official trai- Julien Fabre, Sergi Querol and Ser- it would be very complicated», ‘la Pujada a Alp’ 2018 play against Cyprus ning in each of the categories, yes- gio Romagosa. Unfortunately, Al- «three or four goals have been MOTOR Gerard de la Casa placed the FOOTBALL The National football te- terday they disputed the downhill bert Barilaro will not be able to par- due to our unforced mistakes» first position3 at the 8th Pujada a Alp am will play3 two exhibition games finals and today the cross-country ticipate in the competition for work he added. 2500. Ingrid Rosell de la Casa placed against Cyprus on October 31 and ones. The best master runners in the reasons. In that sense, he was opti- fourth. On the other hand, among November 1. Andorra is ranked 36th world, from 39 countries in all con- On the other hand, in cross-co- mistic in the face of the next the participants in the category CM, in the UEFA ranking and Cyprus tinents will be competing for glory. untry, the Principality will have Eva matches. «For us, the compe- Edgar Montellà (Speed Car) occu- 40th. These matches will be two In this way, the excitement of BTT Garrido in female category and Os- tition is useful to prepare the pied the third position of the EMF, tests before the next commitments, continues in Vallnord with the UCI car Berral, Josep Carlos Pomé, Albert World Roller Games that will be while he was the winner of the cate- such as the PreMundial phase. The Masters World Championship with Turné, Àlex Bellera, Jordi Gómez, Al- held next year in Barcelona and, gory in the Championship of Cata- team had a similar duel a few mont- a record number of participants: berto Quiroga and Emili Pérez in the therefore, we have not set our- lonia. Also among the CM, Ramon hs earlier against Wales, in which 700 riders. In this sense, five runners male category. selves a goal», he concluded. Plaus ranked in the second position. the tricolours won one of the games. H H