The former boss of Spanish collection society SGAE’s digital arm stands accused of orchestrating false payments worth €57,000 – and could face almost five years in prison.
The new case dates back to the three years between 2008 and 2011. Spanish singer José Ramón Márquez (Ramoncín) is accused of issuing false invoices to SGAE that allowed him to extract nearly €60,000 out of the songwriters and publishers organisation.
Jose Luis Rodriguez Neri, who was Director General of Spain’s Digital Society Of Authors (SDAE) until 2011, faces charges of financial misappropriation – essentially consenting to Ramoncín’s invoices – that could land him four years and ten months of jail time.
Ramoncín, who potentially faces the same jail term as Neri, announced that he is aiming to “hang a sign” behind him in which “reads ‘innocent’”.
Meanwhile, the former MD of SGAE, Enrique Loras, faces over two years behind bars for ‘misuse’ or a fine of €20,866 euros for ‘mismanagement appropriation’.
And the former director of Legal Services for SGAE, Pablo Hernandez Arroyo, is also implicated.
He potentially faces two years and nine months in prison or, alternatively, a fine of 40,356 euros for ‘mismanagement’.
Ramoncín, who was an SGAE board member and ran Jupiter Music, stands accused “irregular billing or without cause,” thanks to the “consent” of Rodriguez Neri and “relevant” intervention of Loras.
Spain’s Public Ministry has submitted its report to the judge of the the country’s National Court, José de la Mata.
This certainly isn’t the first time that SGAE has been plunged into legal turmoil.
In July 2011, police raided its offices in Madrid – as well as 16 other locations – arresting nine employees on charges of misappropriation of funds.
‘Operation Saga’ saw the arrest of executives included former SGAE president Eduardo “Teddy” Bautista and Jose Luis Rodriguez Neri – the man at the centre of the new trial.Music Business Worldwide
