Court bans wife of President Sánchez from leaving Spain in corruption case
A judge imposed precautionary measures on Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, including a ban on leaving the country and the obligation to appear twice monthly before the courts, as part of an investigation into corruption allegations.
Court bans wife of President Sánchez from leaving Spain in corruption case
A judge issued a ruling on Saturday prohibiting Begoña Gómez, spouse of Spanish government president Pedro Sánchez, from leaving the national territory. Additionally, she must appear before judicial authorities twice each month. These measures were adopted to prevent any attempt to flee whilst the legal proceedings against her continue.
The investigation includes charges of corruption between private parties, abuse of influence, mismanagement of public resources and exercise of influence. The same case also names businesswoman Cristina Álvarez and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés as defendants.
According to the prosecution, Gómez allegedly took advantage of her position as the spouse of the head of the executive to promote private interests through a university professorship at the Complutense Centre of Madrid, an institution she herself directed. The defendant rejects all accusations and declares her innocence.
The case arose following a complaint filed by the organisation Manos Limpias and far-right groups, including the Vox party.
The decision by judge Juan Carlos Peinado generated strong reactions in government circles, which denounced a politically motivated persecution. The ruling comes just days after former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero testified in a separate judicial investigation concerning an alleged 530,000 euro bail-out of airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic, a matter in which he also denies any involvement or exercise of influence.
Source: Naftemporiki