Santos Cerdán takes the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court: "They want to get a confession."

BarcelonaHaving exhausted all avenues of appeal before the Supreme Court, Santos Cerdán's defense team is now taking action and turning to the Constitutional Court to secure the release of the former Socialist party member from Soto del Real for his alleged involvement in the corruption scandal at the Ministry of Transport. His lawyer, Benet Salellas, filed an appeal for protection on Wednesday, requesting the Supreme Court's investigative judge's decision to remand him in pretrial detention without bail. Judge Leopoldo Puente made that decision. to prevent Cerdán from destroying evidence of the alleged network to collect bribes on public works contracts that he allegedly organized with the rest of those involved in the plot. However, for the defense of the former PSOE organization secretary, this risk does not exist and, therefore, there is no justification for keeping him behind bars. For all these reasons, he demands his immediate release.

In the appeal, consulted by ARA, the lawyer strongly attacks Judge Puente's decision to send Cerdán to prison, while Ábalos and former advisor Koldo García are free. "This party finds it a flagrant contradiction that Mr. Cerdán is considered the "head of the criminal plot" and that the investigating judge, unlike other suspects, did not order an entry and search of his home [...]. It is quite evident that the investigating judge does not consider any risk of destruction to exist," he points out. And while Cerdán has already been removed from his posts, Ábalos remains a member of parliament, and many of the businessmen charged in the case are also continuing to stir the pot at their companies, Salellas adds.

In prison so he can confess?

On the other hand, the lawyer argues that Cerdán has no history of "manipulation or obstructive behavior" since his investigation began, because he has neither attempted to tamper with witnesses nor distorted any material. "He has always maintained exemplary behavior in the administration of justice," argues Salellas. Regarding the evidence that could disappear, he criticizes the investigator for not stating exactly what it is and maintains that "inconstitutionally admissible purposes" were behind the decision to send him to prison. For example, to quell "the social alarm" or pressure him to "obtain a confession." complaint that has already been filed with the Supreme Court. It's a strategy, the lawyer maintains, that the investigating judge already used with the businessman commissioner Víctor de Aldama, who was released from prison after collaborating with the justice system. "This practice wouldn't be so far removed from history." confession by torture", censorship.

Cerdán's defense also reiterates that there is no evidence that the former Socialist MP was enriched by the scheme and argues that if the Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit hasn't found the loot, it's because it doesn't exist. For all these reasons, the judge is closely scrutinizing Cerdán's relationship with the company Servinabar, the concessionaire of multi-million-dollar contracts with the government of Navarre, in which he bought 45% of the shares for just 6,000 euros. However, the contract was never made public, which is what his defense is using to disassociate him from the company.

Cs, admitted as a prosecution

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court investigation continues. Judge Puente has agreed to extend the investigation for another six months due to the complexity of the case. who requested to appear in person, something the Supreme Court admitted in a ruling issued on Monday, which was released this Wednesday.

The legal leadership of the case will fall to former Orange deputies Carlos Carrizosa and Mamen Peris, who are also lawyers. It's a move that the party, which currently has no representation in either Congress or Parliament, justifies by its "commitment to democratic regeneration, transparency, and the fight against corruption."