Overview
The National Court in Spain has opened an oral trial against 15 former executives and police officers linked to BBVA. The case centers on accusations that the bank hired a former police commissioner to spy on businesspeople, politicians, and journalists between 2004 and 2016.
Charges Against BBVA
Judge Antonio Piña has sent BBVA to trial for:
- 52 crimes of discovery and disclosure of secrets
- A continued crime of active bribery
The bank itself is also named as a legal entity in the proceedings.
Key Individuals Involved
Francisco González
Former president of BBVA (2000‑2018). Prosecutors claim he knew and approved the contracts with the former commissioner throughout his nearly two‑decade leadership. The prosecution is seeking a sentence that could reach 173 years in prison.
Jose Manuel Villarejo
Former National Police commissioner who became a media figure through the Tándem case. He led the Cenyt Group, a network that sold intelligence and espionage services to private clients while he remained a police officer. In May of this year he was sentenced to three years and six months for the Dina case, involving the illegal access to a politician’s advisor’s phone.
Julio Corrochano
BBVA’s security director (2002‑2018) and former police commissioner. Prosecutors describe him as the main link between the bank and Villarejo’s Cenyt Group, requesting up to 243 years in prison for him.
Other BBVA Executives
- Eduardo Arbizu – former global director of Regulation and Internal Control.
- Eduardo Ortega Martín – former director of Litigation Legal Services.
- José Manuel García Crespo – former head of legal services.
- Ángel Cano – CEO (2009‑2015) alleged to have followed Villarejo’s orders.
- Antonio Béjar – risk director for BBVA Spain (2008‑2014) and former head of the Castellana North District.
- Joaquín Gortari – González’s chief of staff and global head of Internal Audit.
- Óscar Santos Touche – worked in BBVA security and maintained contact with Villarejo’s team.
- Rafael Redondo Rodríguez – longtime partner of Villarejo and manager of several Cenyt Group companies.
Police Officers Accused
Three former National Police leaders — José Santiago Sánchez Aparicio, Antonio Bonilla, and Manuel Vázquez López — are charged with helping Villarejo’s network obtain information for intelligence tasks.
What the Prosecution Alleges
The prosecution says that from 2004 to 2016 BBVA paid Villarejo’s Cenyt Group to conduct surveillance on various targets. The alleged activities included:
- Gathering confidential information on business rivals.
- Monitoring politicians and journalists.
- Using illegally obtained data to gain advantages in negotiations and legal matters.
These actions are said to violate laws protecting privacy and constitute bribery because public officials (the police officers) were allegedly paid for private services.
Current Status of the Trial
The oral trial has begun, with judge Antonio Piña overseeing the proceedings. If found guilty, the accused could face lengthy prison sentences, and BBVA may receive significant fines as a legal entity.
Conclusion
This case highlights how corporate security practices can cross legal boundaries when private companies engage with former law‑enforcement officials for espionage. The outcome will not only determine the fate of the individuals involved but may also set a precedent for how banks and other corporations handle intelligence‑gathering activities in the future.
For more details, see the original report: Source
Images Credit: www.diariodeibiza.es