Former Finance Chief Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison – About €2.17 Million Embezzled

Two and a Half Years in Prison After Multi-Million Embezzlement – A Case That Keeps the Island Busy

In the late morning, outside the courthouse building in Palma, more glances than usual were noticeable. A soft murmur, a photographer far away – and then the news: the former chief financial officer, Pilar Bonet, has been convicted of embezzling around €2.17 million. The verdict: two and a half years in prison, a fine, and the obligation to repay the full damages.

The defendant had for decades worked in a senior position in the accounting department of a large corporation. According to the verdict, she siphoned funds for years into accounts she controlled. A fact that many in Palma found hard to grasp – not because of the amount alone, but because behind the act there is also a personal story.

A psychological report concluded that Bonet suffers from a compulsive shopping addiction and a persistent depressive disorder. Judges and prosecutors agreed before the trial on a settlement that allowed a reduction in punishment. The court therefore spoke of diminished responsibility but did not forgo a prison sentence: in Spain a conviction of two years or more typically also entails imprisonment.

The trial itself lasted only a short time; witnesses were not called again, and Bonet agreed to the settlement in tears. Lawyers for the parties had already discussed the modalities beforehand – compensation, punishment, treatment recommendations. On one of the twelve accounts cited by the defense, investigators found more than €400,000.

In addition to the prison term, a small fine was imposed; however, the key point is the repayment obligation: around €2,170,200.80 must be paid to the former company. A court spokesperson stressed that the verdict should also send signals to others: Misconduct in trusted positions has consequences, regardless of personal problems.

Some neighbors said they often saw Bonet alone on the streets of Palma, with bags that looked like shopping bags. Others recall her long tenure with the company since 1992 and that she had led the administration of a division for two decades. The mix of professional responsibility, mental illness, and criminal behavior makes the case complicated – and tragic.

Whether she will actually serve the sentence behind bars now depends on further legal details: enforcement rules, potential parole applications, and the path of restitution. For Palma, it remains a case in which questions of responsibility, illness, and justice are closely intertwined.