Álex Debón and Carlos Fabra to Face Trial for Bribery in the Aerocas Case
Former motorcycle racer Álex Debón and former president of the Castellón Provincial Council, Carlos Fabra, will stand trial starting May 19, 2025, in the Castellón Provincial Court. They are accused of an alleged crime of bribery in the so-called Aerocas case. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a sentence of three years and three months in prison for each.
The investigation began in 2016 following a complaint from the Public Prosecutor’s Office about possible irregularities in sponsorship contracts signed between the public company Aerocas and the pilot’s company, Motosport69.
According to the prosecution, between 2010 and 2013, Debón allegedly paid Fabra a total of €360,000, which would represent a 10% commission on the €3.6 million that Aerocas paid to Motosport69 for advertising services related to the Castellón airport.
The transfers were made under the label of a “loan,” although no repayment schedule was established until March 2013. Some of these payments coincided with Aerocas’s transfers to Motosport69, which strengthens the suspicion that these were commissions for mediation.
Judicial Developments
In September 2022, Investigative Court No. 3 of Castellón opened proceedings with a jury trial against Fabra and Debón for alleged bribery. The judge found “sufficient rational indications” to proceed against both individuals.
However, back in 2016, proceedings against Fabra, the former general director of Aerocas, and 11 former board members of the company for alleged offenses of abuse of office and embezzlement were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Bribery, as defined in Article 419 of the Spanish Penal Code, involves the act of offering or receiving a bribe by public officials or authorities. Penalties vary based on the severity of the action influenced by the bribe:
If the bribe results in the official performing an act against their duties, the penalty is three to six years in prison, a fine of 12 to 24 months, and special disqualification from public office for nine to twelve years.
If the action is within the scope of their duties but still rewarded inappropriately, the penalty is two to four years in prison, a fine within the same range, and disqualification for five to nine years.
Simply accepting a gift due to one’s position may lead to six months to one year in prison and suspension from public employment for up to three years.
The Aerocas case has generated significant public and political attention. Carlos Fabra, who was previously sentenced in 2013 to four years in prison for tax crimes, now faces new accusations that could further damage his reputation and political influence.
Álex Debón, on the other hand, known for his successful career in professional motorcycling, sees his public image tarnished by his involvement in this corruption case.
The trial scheduled for May 2025 will be key to uncovering the truth and assigning legal responsibility to the accused. Society expects the judicial process to proceed with transparency and for justice to be served in this case, which has deeply shaken the Valencian Community.
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