Madrid - Spanish investigators arrested 13 people over suspected fraud related to work on a high-speed rail connection between Madrid and Barcelona, a court said on Tuesday.
The court, from the northeastern region of Catalonia, said in a statement it was investigating allegations of embezzlement.
The investigation stemmed from a complaint related to three building sites around La Sagrera, a Barcelona station, according to the anti-corruption prosecutor's office. Overcharging worth 82 million euros may have taken place, the prosecutors said.
The complaint was filed by the head of ADIF, the state-run high-speed rail administration company, the prosecutors said.
The prosecutors had earlier put the number of arrests at 14.
The 621-kilometre high speed train line cost around 9 billion euros.
Prosecutors said they believed officials and employees of private contractors were involved in the suspected fraud.
A total of 15 business locations and homes were searched in raids on Tuesday. Neither the court or the anti-corruption office named any of the companies involved.
Reuters