Key facts
- BBVA, former chairman Francisco González, and 14 others will stand trial.
- The case involves alleged illegal contracts awarded to former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo from 2004 to 2016.
- BBVA faces charges of bribery and unlawful discovery and disclosure of secrets.
- Francisco González is accused of bribery, disclosure of secrets, criminal organization membership, mismanagement, and document falsification.
- Prosecutors seek lengthy prison sentences for key defendants.
Spain's National Court has ordered BBVA, its former chairman Francisco González, and 14 other individuals to stand trial in connection with alleged illegal contracts awarded to former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo. The period under investigation spans from 2004 to 2016.
Judge Antonio Piña has charged BBVA with bribery and 52 counts of unlawful discovery and disclosure of secrets. A bond of 1.17 million euros has been set to cover potential civil liabilities, and defendants have ten days to submit their defense briefs.
Francisco González faces charges including bribery, disclosure of secrets, membership in a criminal organization, mismanagement, and falsification of documents. Several other former BBVA executives and individuals linked to Villarejo are also set to appear in court.
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is seeking substantial prison sentences, requesting 173 years for González, 216 years for Villarejo, and 243 years for the bank's former head of security, Julio Corrochano.
Prosecutors contend that the hiring of Cenyt, a company associated with Villarejo, was approved by BBVA's senior management and conducted outside of established internal procedures. However, BBVA maintains that the events in question do not render the bank criminally liable.