'Craig case:' Former executives say they followed Al Thani's orders

Three of the four former directors of Málaga, investigated for alleged irregularities in a purchase of shares with club money, have declared this Friday before the head of the Court of Instruction number 14 of Málaga in the frame of the call 'Operation Craig', given name of Craig Thomson, the famous referee who hurt Málaga in the 2013 Champions League against Borussia Dortmund.

This court had summoned four former directors of Malaga to testify as investigated, allegedly related to irregularities in the purchase of shares put up for public auction with money from the entity detected in the course of a police investigation into the financial and directive management of the club. These former executives are Moayad Shatat (former executive vice president), Manuel Novo (former deputy general director), Joaquín Jofre (former legal adviser) and Roberto Cano (former financed director). The first two did not show up. Representing Shatat his lawyers attended who presented a letter to the court explaining that his client is in quarantine in Lebanon for having tested positive for COVID-19.

All of them have avoided any kind of responsibility. According to sources in the case, the declarants admitted that they bought the aforementioned shares of Fernando Puche, president of Málaga from 1997 to 2002, with the money from Málaga following all orders issued by the then president and owner of the club Abdullah Al Thani.

They were also questioned about the fleet of high-end cars allegedly financed with club money. In this regard, they declared they knew nothing. Former Malaga officials admit that the irregular purchase of shares was ordered by Al Thani

The aforementioned and alleged irregular purchase of shares under investigation dates back to 2015. These titles correspond to 0.76% of the entity's total shares, have a value of 134,000 euros that were put up for public auction and were acquired from former president Fernando Puche. The so-called ‘Operation Craig’ is continuing.