Aldama won't repay 3 million: the fuel VAT fraud scheme

Aldama won't repay the 3 million: the VAT fraud behind the scheme
The controversy over the 3 million euros that alleged fixer Víctor de Aldama will not have to repay has peine scrutiny of the case in Spain. The figure, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. According to reports from the Agencia Tributaria (Spain's tax agency), the total amount diverted could reach 8.2 million, but most of it has vanished into tax havens in Eastern Europe and Switzerland. Only 3 million could be traced, and everything suggests the money is already in the hands of the right intermediaries.

The mechanism: fake VAT invoicing in the fuel sector
The scheme is not a simple diversion of funds but a sophisticated VAT fraud structure in the hydrocarbons sector. Aldama invoiced non-existent shell companies to simulate purchases and then claimed refunds of the VAT paid. The alleged fraud rested on biofuel contracts that never materialized. The 3 million figure is only the part the tax authorities managed to trace; the rest, another 5.2 million, has evaporated into opaque companies.

Will the money come back?
The truth is that nobody expects to see a single euro returned. The system, as analysts point out, rewards those who inform on other big fish. Aldama, who reportedly cooperated with the Justice system, will escape prison, while former minister José Luis Ábalos remains behind bars. The sense of impunity is widespread: the 3 million will not be repaid because, it is argued, the money has already been distributed among the right links in the chain.