Spain : the President of an NGO accused of misusing aid destined to Sahrawis in Tindouf

The leadership of the Polisario Front is no longer the only part accused of misusing international aid sent to Sahrawis in Tindouf camps. According to El Confidencial, a Spanish online newspaper, the President of a local NGO has stood in trial for corruption.

The highly respected Oriol Homs Ferret, who also presides the Catalan association of sociology, has allegedly hijacked thousands of Euros.

Funds granted by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the Homs NGO were to finance two development projects : the first costs 423, 120 Euros ( around 4.6 million dirham) dedicated to the launch of vocational training programs for the benefit of the camp’s youngsters. The second, amounting to 281,400 Euros (more than 3 million dirham) was intended to assist local employment policies.

Once the fraud was revealed, AECID immediately lodged a complaint against Oriol Homs. Investigations began in April 2013 under the supervision of a judge. She is convinced that there is enough evidence against Homs to accuse him of misusing the state’s subsidies, adds the same source.

In statements to El Confidencial, Homs claimed that he was innocent defending himself and denying accusations.