UCO implicates Juanma Serrano in alleged illegal commissions scheme at Correos
The Civil Guard extends the investigation into alleged illegal commissions at Correos and implicates Juanma Serrano, former head of cabinet to Pedro Sánchez.
UCO implicates Juanma Serrano in alleged illegal commissions scheme at Correos
The Civil Guard has extended the charging in a case investigating an alleged criminal network dedicated to obtaining improper benefits through public contracts. The new name that has come into the investigators' focus is Juanma Serrano, who served as head of the Office of the President of the Government and subsequently headed Correos until 2023, according to ABC.
Judge Santiago Pedraz, head of Central Investigation Court number 5 of the National High Court, received a document from the UCO in which conversations are documented between Leire Díez—known as the "PSOE's fixer"—and Vicente Fernández, former president of SEPI. In these exchanges, Fernández was pressing to accelerate the signing of an agreement with the postal company before Serrano left his position.
The message, dated in December 2022, suggested that Serrano's continued tenure as president was key for the contract and its subsequent extension to go ahead. Díez, who at that time headed the Philately area at Correos, responded affirmatively. The officers believe that she obtained that position thanks to a recommendation from Serrano himself, with whom she had maintained contact from his time at Enusa.
The agreement, valued at more than 180,000 euros, was awarded to a law firm that had already received commissions from the state-owned company where Díez had previously worked. The UCO detects indications that the lawyers from the firm may have drafted the conditions document to which they later applied, which would constitute an improper advantage.
According to the police report, Fernández lacked a formal position at SEPI when the events occurred, but retained considerable influence. The investigation points to Serrano having been aware of the operation, since otherwise the contract renewal would have been at risk.
The officers are also examining the role of an instrumental firm called Mediaciones Martínez as a possible means of distributing benefits among those charged. The case remains open pending further judicial proceedings.
Source: ABC