Twelve people have been arrested by the Guardia Civil over corruption in vehicle testing centres (ITVs) and a number of vehicles re-examined.

As part of police operation, PANTIV II, began after the Grupo de Investigación y Análisis (GIAT Central), belonging to Tráfico received information concerning an ITV centre in the region of Madrid that was passing through vehicles that should have in no way been given an approval stamp.

The Guardia Civil then visited several ITV centres within the autonomous region of Madrid to locate the centre in question, going through their records with a fine-tooth comb. They found fifty-one vehicles that because of their age and characteristics should not have passed.

Allegedly, the owners of vehicles had been contacting companies that run ITV centres and for an arranged price were passed through the checks and given a clean bill of health without any problems at all. In some cases, an arrangement was made to put the numberplate of the vehicle to be inspected on another one of similar characteristics but in a much better condition, so that it could pass the test in its place.

Those arrested face charges of forging public documents, bribery and belonging to a criminal organisation.

These 51 vehicles will have to go through the test again, but a real one this time.

(News: Madrid)