Madrid Court Curbs Investigation into Begoña Gómez Over Corruption Allegations
The Provincial Court of Madrid has instructed Judge Juan Carlos Peinado to limit his investigation into Begoña Gómez, the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, regarding alleged influence trafficking and business corruption. According to a report from Europa Press, the judges of Section 23 specified that the investigation carried out by the Court of First Instance Number 41 of Madrid should exclude matters related to Globalia and the Air Europa bailout. This means that the focus can only remain on Gómez's chair position at the Complutense University of Madrid and specific contracts under suspicion.
This decision comes after the Public Prosecutor's Office filed an appeal seeking a clearer outline of the investigation's scope, as it appeared that Judge Peinado was conducting a broad inquiry. While it was initially expected for the Provincial Court to meet on September 30, deliberations were postponed when the judges noted the absence of an appeal from Gómez, leading to a suspension of discussions. Despite the anticipated delay of 3 to 4 weeks for further deliberations, the judges convened on Monday after they received comprehensive documentation regarding the case.
In addition to the Prosecutors Office’s appeal, the judges also considered a request from Begoña Gómez's defense, led by former socialist minister Antonio Camacho, which argued for the case to be dismissed, claiming that the judge was conducting a generalized investigation. Camacho's defense pointed to the fact that Peinado had launched a broad inquiry into all actions taken by Gómez since her husband assumed the presidency, only constrained by the bounds of the initial complaint from the anti-corruption organization Manos Limpias and actions specifically under the European Prosecutors Office's jurisdiction.
Ultimately, the judges rejected the defense's appeal, maintaining the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Additionally, separate from this ruling, Judge Peinado is facing another lawsuit accusing Gómez of misappropriating software developed at the Complutense University of Madrid, indicating that this situation may be far from resolved.
As this high-profile investigation continues to unfold, it raises important questions about ethics and accountability in public office, and the potential implications for the Spanish government amid increasing scrutiny.
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