This article investigates the life and alleged crimes of Pedro Mir, a wealthy Catalan businessman presented as a philanthropist but accused of tax evasion and financial wrongdoing. The investigation centers on the alleged mismanagement of his foundations, Cellex and Mir Puig, after his death in 2017. Three individuals – lawyer José F. Capellas, accountant Jorge Sagarra, and oncologist José Tabernero – acting as executors of Mir's estate, have been detained and released on suspicion of misappropriation and embezzlement.
The article alleges that Mir was involved in significant tax evasion schemes, aided by individuals such as Evaristo Segur, a currency transporter. The narrative highlights Mir's escape to Switzerland to avoid a tax investigation in 1979 and his subsequent connections with Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner, leading to the establishment of a bank in Paraguay. Mir allegedly used this association to obtain a diplomatic passport and further his business dealings.
A key element is the alleged betrayal of Mir's business partner, Àngel Surroca. The article describes how Surroca built Derivados Forestales into a successful company, only to have Mir sell off the company in pieces to fund his lavish lifestyle and gain social recognition. The sale, facilitated through Banco Sabadell, allegedly involved significant tax evasion, with money funneled to Luxembourg and Panama.
The article concludes by highlighting the alleged hypocrisy of Catalan nationalism, contrasting Mir's actions with the idealized image of successful, hardworking Catalan entrepreneurs.