Spanish banker's death was suicide, officials say

MADRID – Judicial authorities in Spain say that autopsy results show the Spanish banker involved in graft scandals who was found dead this week with a bullet to his chest deliberately shot himself.

The body of Miguel Blesa, the 69 year-old former chairman of the disappeared Caja Madrid, was found Wednesday in the garage of a private hunting estate in southern Spain after he told other guests he was going to move his car.

The forensic report confirms the widespread speculation it had been a case of suicide.

Blesa had been waiting for the result of an appeal to a six-year prison sentence for misusing corporate credit cards issued by Bankia SA, which absorbed Caja Madrid in 2011. Bankia was later nationalized and bailed out for 18 billion euros ($24 billion).