Gurtel corruption case: Spanish ruling party officials found guilty Published duration 24 May 2018

image copyright AFP image caption Luis Barcenas was one of 29 defendants convicted

The former treasurer of Spain's governing People's Party has been given a 33-year jail sentence over one of the country's biggest corruption scandals.

The High Court in Madrid convicted Luis Barcenas of receiving bribes, money laundering and tax crimes.

The case centred on a secret campaign fund the conservative People's Party ran from 1999 until 2005.

Barcenas was among 29 officials and businessmen convicted of securing bribes for municipal contracts.

The lynchpin, businessman Francisco Correa, was sentenced to 51 years in prison.

The German translation of his name, Gurtel, become shorthand for the corruption investigation.

Other cases are pending - which could cause further potential embarrassment for the ruling party.

Many Spanish voters were exasperated by corruption scandals impacting the traditional centre-right PP and centre-left Socialist parties.