The magistrate of the National High Court (AN) Antonio Piña has agreed to open oral proceedings against BBVA, its former president Francisco González, and 14 other people, including former high-ranking bank officials and police commanders, for a series of alleged illicit commissions that were allegedly made to commissioner José Manuel Villarejo between 2004 and 2016.
In the order to open oral proceedings, the judge decides to put BBVA on trial for alleged crimes of bribery and 52 other alleged crimes of discovery and revelation of secrets. As for González, the investigating judge is prosecuting him for alleged crimes of active and passive bribery, 42 alleged crimes of discovery and revelation of secrets, criminal group, disloyal administration, and document forgery.
Piña imposes a bail of 1.17 million euros to guarantee possible civil liabilities, with the warning that if this amount is not deposited within three days, assets will be seized.
Following this resolution, the defenses of the investigated parties have a period of ten days to present their defense statements and propose the evidence they deem relevant for the oral hearing.