Supreme Court Confirms Two-Year Prison Sentences for Asturian Miners in 15,000-Ton Coal Theft Case

The Supreme Court has upheld the two-year prison sentences for Pedro Emiliano Román and Faustino Ovín Polo, two Asturian mining businessmen convicted of defrauding Energy Fuel Asturias by ordering 15,000 tons of coal without paying for it. The case dates back to 2015, when the defendants arranged a contract to supply coal to a thermal power plant operated by Iberdrola, but failed to settle payments, causing the company to lose track of the coal. Transport of the coal started in October 2015 to storage facilities in Prado de la Guzpeña, under licenses granted by local authorities. Despite multiple payment extensions and debt acknowledgments, Román and Ovín never paid, and eventually the coal was reported stolen by a third party, though the criminal claim was dismissed. The Supreme Court ratified earlier judgments from the León Provincial Court and the Castile and León High Court, confirming the defendants' guilt in fraud and the corresponding penalties: two years in prison and fines. This decision highlights ongoing legal actions against fraudulent activities in Asturias’ mining sector, long significant for the region's economy.