Senator José Manuel Baltar Denies Speeding Charges as Supreme Court Hearing Concludes
Senator José Manuel Baltar of the Popular Party (PP) vehemently denied allegations of driving at 215 kilometers per hour on the A52 motorway during a recent Supreme Court hearing. His lawyer asserted that Baltar's rights had been violated throughout the investigation, leading to calls for the case to be dismissed. The Prosecutor's Office, however, has maintained its demand for a fine of 1800 euros and a driving license suspension for one year and one day, emphasizing that the senator indeed committed a crime against road safety.
Baltar, who was serving as the president of the Ourense Provincial Council at the time of the incident, stated that he was intercepted by traffic agents on April 23, 2023. He claimed that he was informed only that he had exceeded the speed limit and was not made aware of any impending criminal inquiry. "The notifying officer told me that the radar had recorded 215 kilometers per hour, but insisted that since it was not 216 kilometers per hour, I would only face an administrative sanction," Baltar recounted in defense of himself.
The senator's defense team argued that he was driving at 199 kilometers per hour, a speed that would not constitute a criminal offense. His attorney, Ramón Montero, suggested that Baltar was being targeted due to his political position, alleging that the records concerning the incident were altered multiple times to reflect incorrect speeds.
The case has drawn attention to the principle of "non bis in idem," which prohibits an individual from being punished twice for the same offense. Montero insisted that, since Baltar had already faced an administrative fine of 600 euros and lost points on his driving license for the same incident, pursuing a criminal conviction would breach this principle. To this, the Prosecutor's Office responded that there is no violation of rights, as criminal sanctions may coexist with administrative penalties.
During the hearing, a Civil Guard officer who operated the radar testified that Baltar was indeed speeding, stating that they were startled by the excessive pace of the senator's vehicle. The officer indicated that applying a margin of error in their readings confirmed that Baltar exceeded the speed limit significantly. This claim supported the prosecution's assertion that the elements constitutive of a crime were present.
Despite the defense's attempts to undermine the evidence by highlighting alleged errors in the procedural documentation, the prosecution maintained that the evidence of Baltar's speeding was compelling and unambiguous. Witnesses called during the trial appeared to clarify these points further, pinning the senator's culpability on the recorded evidence.
The initial case began in a court in Galicia, but jurisdiction was transferred to the Supreme Court upon establishing Senator Baltar's legislative status. The Supreme Court must now decide on the merits of the case.
In a parallel development, it has been reported that despite Baltar's legal troubles, the Popular Party (PP) will continue to govern the provincial council of Ourense. PP is also expected to share leadership of the mayor's office with the controversial figure from Ourensana Democracy, further igniting discussions on governance and political ethics in the region.
As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how the outcome will affect Baltar's political career and the integrity of governance in Ourense.
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