Western media: The court is investigating Laporta and other Barcelona executives for allegedly defrauding an investor of about 100,000 euros

According to the Catalan Journal, the Barcelona court has ordered an investigation into Barcelona President Laporta, Vice Chairman Just, former executive Javier Sala-Martin and former TV3 director Juan Oliver. The four people are suspected of defrauding a female investor of approximately 100,000 euros.

Previously, Barcelona’s Investigative Court No. 22 filed the case on file without conducting a substantive investigation. However, the Sixth Branch of the Barcelona Court recently overturned the decision. It believed that the case contained “criminal signs” and was not a simple civil breach, and stated that the original filing decision was “too hasty.” The court pointed out that the conduct involved included providing false information, operating through severely illiquid companies, and using the defendant’s social reputation to attract investment.

The plaintiff’s lawyer Jose Oriola said that the victim paid 120,000 euros to the Core Store company controlled by the defendant and only received back the first 20,000 euros.

This fraud case mainly involves two projects: the Reus Athletic Upgrade Plan, operated through the Core Store company, promises to promote the team from Segunda B to Segunda A, and provides an annual high return of 6% and a full recovery guarantee of principal.

As well as the Chinese version of the "La Masia" youth training project, implemented through CSSB Company, it is planned to establish a football academy in China that imitates the Basala Masia model and serves as a player exchange platform between Atletico Reus and Beijing Institute of Technology Football Club.

Investigations show that CSSB has a close relationship with Core Store. Laporta and four others, as the sole shareholders of Core Store, jointly hold 76.32% of CSSB’s shares.

This is not the first time Laporta has faced similar accusations. Barcelona's Investigative Court No. 6 is hearing a case in which he allegedly defrauded a family of 4.7 million euros between 2016 and 2018. Three other brothers sued him in Court No. 18 for embezzlement of 200,000 euros and 50,000 US dollars.