750,000 euros in commissions from contracts with public companies: what is being investigated in the Leire Díez case?

BarcelonaThe National Court believes that former socialist militant Leire Díez, former president of the State Society of Industrial Holdings (SEPI) Vicente Fernández and businessman Antxon Alonso – the three arrested last week and now released on bailThey allegedly received around €750,000 in commissions in exchange for intervening in at least five transactions involving "public companies and entities dependent on SEPI." This is stated in a ruling by Judge Antonio Piña—who has kept the case under seal—which has been accessed by several media outlets and news agencies in recent hours. The investigated operations, allegedly carried out "through various public offices," took place at least between 2021 and 2023. Based on the investigation by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard, the judge considers that the three individuals under investigation formed a group calling itself Hisurrok for their own benefit or that of third parties, taking advantage of their position, relationships, and ability to influence certain people. According to the ruling, the three allegedly acted in a coordinated manner and with the utmost discretion to "obtain maximum financial gain through the collection of commissions." The funds were allegedly channeled primarily through the company Mediaciones Martínez. The first operation mentioned in the ruling is the granting of a bailout by SEPI to the company Tubos Reunidos for 112.8 million euros, in exchange for which the members of the Hisurrok group allegedly received €114,950. Another transaction involves the awarding of a contract by the public company Mercasa to Servinabar, a company owned by Alonso and linked to the former Socialist leader Santos Cerdán. The contract amount was €18,119.75 for "a technical report on the Mercasa headquarters offices."

The third contract awarded is one from the Principality of Asturias Business Park (PEPA) to the joint venture Construcciones y Excavaciones Erriberri-Afesa Medio Ambiente for 2.8 million euros. The individuals under investigation, through the chairman of the contracting committee, allegedly had the power to favor the company Eriberri in the awarding process, and in return, the company allegedly channeled funds to the group totaling 400,000 euros. The judge of the National Court also includes alleged payments from the public company Enusa to the law firm SDP Carrillo y Montes, linked to a public contract, and a subsidy of 17.32 million euros from SEPI to a company linked to the Forestalia2 group, with a commission.

Investigators maintain that most of the commissions received are related to various real estate investments in Marbella and Jaca, although another portion of the funds allegedly went "to individual members of the group." Judge Piña released Díez, Fernández, and Alonso on Saturday, but imposed precautionary measures including the confiscation of their passports, a travel ban, and bi-weekly court appearances. The case, brought by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, is investigating alleged crimes of malfeasance, embezzlement, influence peddling, and organized crime.