A court in Spain ruled that Begonia Gomez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, must appear before a jury in a corruption case. She is prohibited from leaving the country until the process is completed.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado decided to restrict the freedom of movement of Begonia Gomez, who is a defendant in a corruption and influence peddling case.
According to the court ruling, the spouse of the head of government must surrender her passport and appear in court twice a month until the proceedings are concluded.
Additionally, exit bans will be sent to all border points in the country, as well as to civil and military airports.
The investigation into Gomez has been ongoing since April 2024. The inquiry seeks to determine whether she used her position as the Prime Minister's spouse to gain personal advantages and promote private interests.
Both Gomez and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez deny all allegations.
The investigation centers on her activities at the Complutense University of Madrid, the establishment and management of a university department, as well as the possible use of public resources and personal connections.
It is important to note that this is not a verdict but an ongoing criminal process. The court proceedings have not yet concluded, and the charges must be reviewed by a jury.
In April of this year, the investigation officially charged Gomez with several offenses, including embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in commercial transactions, and misappropriation of funds.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by the anti-corruption organization Hazte Oír.
The case against the Prime Minister's wife has become one of the most high-profile political stories in recent years in Spain and is regularly used by the opposition to criticize the government.
At the same time, Spanish law enforcement is also focused on another investigation related to the Prime Minister's family. The Prime Minister's brother, David Sanchez, is involved in a separate case regarding possible influence peddling in employment at the provincial council of Badajoz.
The legal proceedings surrounding Pedro Sanchez's close relatives intensify political pressure on the government; however, final conclusions on both cases are yet to be made by the court.
