UCO rules out irregularities in Begoña Gómez's professorship and bank accounts
The Guardia Civil concludes that the chair co-directed by the president's wife at the Complutense University was created in accordance with regulations and without opaque income.
UCO exonerates Begoña Gómez of main suspicions raised by Judge Peinado
The Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil has concluded that the extraordinary chair co-directed by Begoña Gómez at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) was established following the legal procedures set out by the university itself, and that there are no opaque income flows in the bank accounts of the wife of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez. This is stated in the conclusions report by the police force, to which La Vanguardia has had access, within the framework of the case being investigated by Judge Peinado and which has left Gómez on the verge of trial.
According to the document, the chair "is funded by different collaborators", all of this "in accordance with what is established by the UCM regarding extraordinary chairs and the common regulations applicable to the University". Regarding the accounts of the person under investigation, the UCO notes that "the banking information is consistent with the development of the professional activities that Begoña Gómez has been undertaking", given that the entities to which she was professionally linked "correspond with the main payers that are identified".
Software with no intellectual property registration
One of the focal points of the case was a digital platform for management and measurement of sustainability objectives for small and medium-sized enterprises, developed within the framework of the chair. Judge Peinado used this software to justify alleged crimes of misappropriation and disloyal administration. However, the UCO concludes that "no elements are identified from which it can be inferred that those responsible for the project followed the protocol established by the UCM for the registration of products capable of generating intellectual property rights".
The report further notes that "there are other parallel procedures" — such as the registration of the trademark created within the framework of the platform and the registration of the domain — "subject to an internal protocol", and that no elements are available proving their fulfilment by Begoña Gómez and Blanca de Juan, coordinator of the chair.
Income of 176,000 euros from collaborating companies
Regarding financing, the UCO explains that the chair, according to its regulations, is funded by resources from collaborating entities. The income recorded in this framework amounted to 176,000 euros, coming from contributions by Telefónica, Reales, Numintec, Google and the Human Age Institute Foundation. The UCO identifies Begoña Gómez and José Manuel Ruano, co-director of the chair, as responsible for expenditure management.
In this way, the report questions some of the main suspicions pointed out by Judge Peinado, by arguing that the money paid by the collaborating companies was intended for the Complutense and not for Gómez personally.
No opaque payments or illicit enrichment
The UCO also rules out the existence of opaque payments, commissions or illicit financial movements in Gómez's accounts. Although the President's wife billed the university 17,000 euros over two years, the officers consider this figure "incompatible" with personal illicit enrichment.
The report also analyses "the possible personal benefit to Begoña from the tool developed and the connection unrelated to the Complutense", but concludes that "the costs whose origin could be verified were covered with funds from Gómez's personal sphere".
Regarding Cristina Álvarez, Gómez's adviser, the UCO clarifies that certain responsibilities that were attributed to her are not directly attributable to her, noting that several emails and convocations "do not directly imply a task entrusted" to her.
Irregularities in contracts with Making Science and Deloitte
Nevertheless, the police report points to possible procedural irregularities in the hiring of two companies that worked on the software: Making Science SL and Deloitte Consulting.
In the case of Making Science, the UCO indicates that the contract would have been executed "without even having processed an administrative file for the purpose, despite being required given its amount" — 20,000 euros without VAT —. The controlling unit detected this irregularity once the service had been provided, and payment was authorised "in order to avoid unjust enrichment of the UCM", according to the report on Authorisation, Disposal and Obligation.
Regarding Deloitte, the UCO considers that its hiring was carried out "outside the procedure established in the regulations". The payments were based on a minor contract and a subsequent bidding process through a simplified open procedure, but the officers warn that the awards "were not only premeditated", but the consultancy had already begun its functions before the first contract was formalised. According to the report, the requirements stipulated in both contracts "were adjusted to the conditions predefined by Deloitte and the Chair, including the price".
Source: La Vanguardia