Spanish police enter ruling party HQ in corruption probe
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The Cerdan case is the latest and most severe of a series of scandals that has left Prime Minister Sanchez having to fend off calls from opponents for snap elections.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID - Spanish police entered the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party on June 20 to copy the e-mails of former senior party official Santos Cerdan, whose resignation amid a widening graft probe last week triggered a severe political crisis.
Judge Leopoldo Puente, who is investigating allegations against Mr Cerdan and former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, had ordered that the party let the plainclothes officers access its premises, although the Guardia Civil police and government officials said the move did not amount to a raid or searches.
Government spokesperson Pilar Alegria and Transport Minister Oscar Puente also confirmed a similar visit to the ministry’s roads department.
The resignation of Mr Cerdan, a close ally of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, on June 12, and subsequent revelations of potential misconduct, have destabilised the minority governing coalition.
Mr Sanchez has apologised publicly but rejected the opposition’s calls for his resignation.
In a tense grilling in Parliament on June 18, he declined to say whether his name could crop up in the investigation.
The Cerdan case is the latest and most severe of a series of scandals that has left Mr Sanchez having to fend off calls from opponents for snap elections.
Mr Cerdan resigned from his seat in parliament and his post in the Socialist Party after a police report was sent to the judge.
The report, seen by Reuters, provided transcripts of recordings of Mr Cerdan, Mr Abalos and the latter’s former assistant Koldo Garcia discussing alleged kickbacks.
Mr Cerdan “appeared to be the person in charge of taking those alleged payments”, the police wrote in the report. He has publicly denied any wrongdoing.
The judge also asked the police to pore over bank accounts held by Mr Cerdan, companies which allegedly paid bribes and five entrepreneurs.
Around 500 bank accounts will be analysed, according to the writ.
He also ordered state-owned railway infrastructure operator Adif and the transport ministry’s roads department to hand over files over public works that were questioned in a preliminary police report.
Mr Abalos and Mr Garcia will testify before the judge next week, while Mr Cerdan will appear on June 30. REUTERS
