The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office rules out return the phone to Juan Manuel Serrano. The prosecutors in charge of the PSOE sewer case oppose Pedro Sánchez’s former chief of staff recovering the terminal seized after his indictment because “it constitutes an original source of potentially relevant information for the cause” within the framework of which alleged irregularities in Correos awards during his mandate are investigated.
In their writing, to which LA RAZÓN has had access, the prosecutors in the case specify that her cell phone – in which the Civil Guard located numerous messages exchanged with Leire Díez – presents a “objective connection” with the facts investigated and that, therefore, it is not appropriate to return it. It should be noted that Pedraz already denied delivery of the terminal in September, although his defense appealed the magistrate’s decision, considering that it is a restrictive measure that violates your rights.
Serrano, who has not yet declared In the case, he explained that the measure lacks justification and that the requirements of “speciality, suitability, necessity and proportionality” required by the Law do not meet. In fact, he denounces that there is “indefinite custody” of his cell phone, for which he requests that the court return it to him. However, Anticorrupción specifies that the device cannot be delivered because “it could constitute a material evidence of the perpetration of various crimes”.
Alleged influence peddling
Specifically, they point to a influence peddling committed “within the criminal organization” that is investigated in this procedure. This would be the plot led by Leire Díez, the former vice president of the Sepi Vicente Fernández, and the businessman Antxon Alonso and which would have rigged at least five contracts in public organizations. worth 133 million euros. Specifically, public awards from entities such as Mercasa, Enusa, Forestalia or Sepi itself are being investigated.
The magistrate charged Sánchez’s close friend in July based on a report from the Civil Guard that linked Serrano to the alleged illicit businesses of Leire Díez, since the “plumber” was director of Institutional Relations of the Post Office under Serrano’s mandate. Then, Pedraz authorized the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard to clone the phone of Pedro Sánchez’s close friend.
His defense considered that, after the corresponding dump, he could recover the device. However, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is opposed to returning it. As indicated, interest in the object is maintained once the first dump of its information has been made. In his opinion, it may constitute a material source of evidence susceptible to subsequent verificationsexpert analyzes or complementary proceedings.
“Post Office payments to the plot”
Furthermore, they advance that preserving the original object allows them to maintain the original source from which the digital data comes and protect themselves in the event that expert tests are carried out that call into question the work of the Judicial Police. “Therefore, once the connection of the terminal with the facts under investigation has been verified and the possibility remains that it constitutes a source of evidence, effect or instrument related to the crime, There are legally sufficient reasons to keep him at judicial disposal“they specify.
For its part, the Civil Guard determined in a report submitted to the court in July that Serrano had acted “in defense of the interests of certain members of the PSOE or the Government.” In addition, he identified messages with Leire Díez prior to the latter’s “plug” into the Post Office, which they also attribute to Serrano. These were, says the UCO, demonstrations that occurred “regularly” that reflected the bond between the two.
Subsequently, the Judicial Police determined that Serrano had facilitated public awards for a value greater than 200,000 euros to Carrillo Abogados SLP, firm linked to Vicente Fernández. The agents suspect that these contracts would conceal a covert financing to the alleged criminal organization which dedicated itself, among its tasks, to boycotting all judicial procedures that affect the PSOE and the environment of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.