Two years in prison for the former president of Valencia for attempted kidnapping
Former Valencia president and construction businessman Juan Soler were sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison for conspiring to kidnap a former colleague and break into his home, according to a regional court.
The Valencia Audience reported through its Twitter account that Soler, who was president of the club between 2004 and 2008, had been found guilty of designing a plan between 2013 and 2014 to kidnap and steal Vicente Soriano, its former vice president, who later became president of the club.
Soler and two other men were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and to pay the victim compensation of 3,000 euros ($3,280).
A fourth man was sentenced to one year and one month for informing the police of the criminal conspiracy, the statement added.
Soriano was Soler’s vice-president at Valencia for four years and then was president of the club for 11 months, resigning in July 2009.
Both men had a bitter legal dispute after Soriano promised to buy Soler’s shares in the club for 85 million euros with the intention of selling them to the Dalport investment group, which later withdrew from the operation.
The case was taken to the Supreme Court and in February 2013 Soriano was sentenced to pay Soler 20 million euros, while Dalport was sentenced to pay 39 million euros.
Soler did not win any trophy in front of Valencia. She took office in October 2004, five months after winning the UEFA League and Cup, and resigned for health reasons two months before winning the King’s Cup in 2008.
During his presidency, the club began building the Nuevo Mestalla stadium, but construction was interrupted less than two years later for financial reasons due to Spain’s deep economic crisis.
