Spanish Court Orders Trial for López Madrid and Villarejo in Harassment Case
The Audiencia Nacional finds grounds to proceed against businessman Javier López Madrid and former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo concerning alleged harassment of doctor Elisa Pinto.
In a significant development in the case against businessman Javier López Madrid and former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, the Audiencia Nacional has reversed an earlier ruling and ordered a trial amid allegations of harassment against doctor Elisa Pinto.
In early 2023, a court had dismissed the case, citing that Pinto lacked standing to pursue charges and that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor had declined to file charges.
However, an appellate court has now ruled in favor of Pinto, who claims to have endured a campaign of harassment linked to a personal dispute with López Madrid, including incidents of physical violence.
The appellate ruling, presided over by Judge Manuela Fernández de Prado, contends that the previous court's argument—that Pinto could not act as a private accuser in the matter of active and passive bribery—was invalid.
The court emphasized that the case in the Audiencia Nacional is connected to parallel proceedings at the Plaza de Castilla courts, where López Madrid and Villarejo also face accusations of harassment, threats, and bodily injury.
The case in the Audiencia Nacional pertains to alleged payments made by López Madrid to Villarejo to intimidate Pinto.
The judges have determined that Pinto is entitled to act as an accuser regarding all incidents, despite one facet of the case being moved to the Audiencia Nacional due to bribery allegations against Villarejo, who is implicated in the broader Tándem Operation, which investigates a criminal organization he is said to lead.
The court characterized the previous ruling dismissing the case against López Madrid as 'bizarre' and maintained that Pinto has consistently acted as a private accuser in relation to the bribery allegations.
It dismissed any restrictions as unfounded, stating that Pinto had not faced barriers to her participation in the legal proceedings.
As the trial looms, the political party Podemos, initially involved as a popular accuser, withdrew from the case.
However, Pinto's request to shift from a private accusation to a popular accusation—which would allow her to bring bribery charges—was not approved.
The court's ruling permits this change and instructs the Investigative Court No. 6 of the Audiencia to recommence proceedings, although this decision is subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The defense attorney representing Pinto seeks a six-year prison sentence for López Madrid, alleging that in September 2013, he employed Villarejo, who was then an active commissioner, to assist in resolving a personal matter related to Pinto.
Prosecuting documents indicate that Villarejo subsequently conducted phone surveillance and engaged in harassment aimed at dissuading Pinto from pursuing her claims against López Madrid.
The case also includes allegations that López Madrid, accompanied by his lawyer Rafael Redondo—who is also facing charges—intimidated Pinto during a visit to her office.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, López Madrid had filed a harassment complaint against Pinto, which was dismissed by a judge in November 2022.
In early 2023, a court had dismissed the case, citing that Pinto lacked standing to pursue charges and that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor had declined to file charges.
However, an appellate court has now ruled in favor of Pinto, who claims to have endured a campaign of harassment linked to a personal dispute with López Madrid, including incidents of physical violence.
The appellate ruling, presided over by Judge Manuela Fernández de Prado, contends that the previous court's argument—that Pinto could not act as a private accuser in the matter of active and passive bribery—was invalid.
The court emphasized that the case in the Audiencia Nacional is connected to parallel proceedings at the Plaza de Castilla courts, where López Madrid and Villarejo also face accusations of harassment, threats, and bodily injury.
The case in the Audiencia Nacional pertains to alleged payments made by López Madrid to Villarejo to intimidate Pinto.
The judges have determined that Pinto is entitled to act as an accuser regarding all incidents, despite one facet of the case being moved to the Audiencia Nacional due to bribery allegations against Villarejo, who is implicated in the broader Tándem Operation, which investigates a criminal organization he is said to lead.
The court characterized the previous ruling dismissing the case against López Madrid as 'bizarre' and maintained that Pinto has consistently acted as a private accuser in relation to the bribery allegations.
It dismissed any restrictions as unfounded, stating that Pinto had not faced barriers to her participation in the legal proceedings.
As the trial looms, the political party Podemos, initially involved as a popular accuser, withdrew from the case.
However, Pinto's request to shift from a private accusation to a popular accusation—which would allow her to bring bribery charges—was not approved.
The court's ruling permits this change and instructs the Investigative Court No. 6 of the Audiencia to recommence proceedings, although this decision is subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The defense attorney representing Pinto seeks a six-year prison sentence for López Madrid, alleging that in September 2013, he employed Villarejo, who was then an active commissioner, to assist in resolving a personal matter related to Pinto.
Prosecuting documents indicate that Villarejo subsequently conducted phone surveillance and engaged in harassment aimed at dissuading Pinto from pursuing her claims against López Madrid.
The case also includes allegations that López Madrid, accompanied by his lawyer Rafael Redondo—who is also facing charges—intimidated Pinto during a visit to her office.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, López Madrid had filed a harassment complaint against Pinto, which was dismissed by a judge in November 2022.
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Translated by AI
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