| Following the arrest of Sidenor director, José Antonio Jainaga, yesterday, Judge Baltasar Garzón has ordered the arrest today of 81 year old Jesús Guibert Azkue, who is also accused of funding a terrorist organisation by paying ETA's so-called 'revolutionary taxes'.
Mr Azkue was held hostage for 17 days after being kidnapped by separatists on March 21st, 1983, but finally released after ransom of 150 million of the old pesetas (€900,000 euros) was paid.
He was arrested after a search of his home in San Sebastián, but, like Mr Jainaga, is expected to be released on bail.
Both men were detained based on evidence seized during the arrest of ETA leader, Francisco Javier López Peña, alias 'Thierry', who was captured in Bordeaux on May 20th.
Basque businessman arrested in ETA extortion probe By: thinkSPAIN Tuesday, July 1, 2008
José Antonio Jainaga, a director of the Sidenor company, has been arrested by the Guardia Civil on the orders of High Court terror judge, Baltasar Garzón, following an initial examination of documentation seized during a dawn raid on the business leader's Bilbao home.
It appears that Mr Jainaga is accused of funding ETA by agreeing to pay the so-called 'revolutionary tax', by means of which the gang funds its illegal activities by extorting local businesses. |