The trial of the 'Kitchen' case continues to uncover the scope of the alleged parapolice plot organized within the Ministry of Interior during the Mariano Rajoy Government's term. This Tuesday, at the National Court, the chief inspector who led the investigation, Gonzalo Fraga, has assured that former commissioner José Manuel Villarejo boasted in his recordings of having direct influence over the leadership of the Interior Ministry and even over the President of the Government himself.
The session, marked by his statement, has served to delve into the content of the audios seized from the former commissioner. According to his testimony, Villarejo, who was unaware he was being investigated, boasted about his ability to communicate with high-ranking officials of the Ministry and his role in sensitive operations, among them the search for compromising information about the former treasurer of the PP, Luis Bárcenas.
An operation to obtain sensitive information
The 'Kitchen' case investigates the alleged police operation deployed to spy on Bárcenas and steal documentation that could compromise the Popular Party. In that context, the inspector has reported that one of Villarejo's objectives was to locate sensitive recordings in the possession of the former treasurer, for which he would have used his driver, Sergio Ríos, as a confidant.
The investigation points to a network that would have operated with reserved funds and outside of legal channels, with connections at different levels of the police and political structure.
Direct relationship with the leadership of Interior
One of the most relevant aspects of the statement has been the confirmation of what the inspector himself has described as an “anomaly” in the chain of command. As he explained, there was direct communication between the Secretary of State for Security and figures such as Villarejo or Commissioner Enrique García Castaño, despite there being intermediate steps in the organizational chart.
Furthermore, the witness has indicated that, according to Villarejo's own notes, the former commissioner went so far as to pressure the then Secretary of State, Francisco Martínez, to provoke the dismissal of the head of Internal Affairs, Marcelino Martín Blas, also accused in the case.
Records, tests and internal tensions
During his statement, the inspector also detailed the circumstances of the searches carried out at Villarejo's homes in November 2017. As he explained, the amount of seized material, especially digital, far exceeded initial forecasts, which hindered its immediate analysis.
The agent has defended the chain of custody of the evidence and has explained that, although the usual is to transfer them directly to the court, in this case they were deposited in police facilities with the knowledge of the judicial authority.
Likewise, he has recognized that his relationship with Villarejo, initially cordial, deteriorated from 2014 onwards, in parallel with the internal tensions within the Police.
The statement of Cosidó, postponed
Tuesday's session did not finally feature the appearance of the former senator and former director of the Police, Ignacio Cosidó, whose statement has been postponed until Wednesday due to the prolongation of the interrogations.
The court will then try to clarify the degree of knowledge or involvement of the former police leadership in the Kitchen operation. Cosidó has denied on previous occasions any relationship with Villarejo or knowledge of the activities that are being investigated.