Spain's National Court has ordered BBVA, the country's second-largest lender, and its former chairman Francisco González to stand trial over allegations that the bank hired a private intelligence firm to conduct corporate espionage against politicians, journalists, and business executives.
The court ruled that sufficient evidence exists for BBVA, González, and 15 other defendants to face criminal proceedings linked to an investigation that has drawn significant attention in Spain's financial sector.
The case dates back to 2019, when prosecutors launched an investigation into claims that BBVA employed Cenyt, a business intelligence firm owned by former Spanish police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo. Prosecutors allege the agency carried out surveillance and gathered confidential information on behalf of the bank during González's tenure as chairman between 2000 and 2018.
According to the court, BBVA will stand trial on charges including bribery and the unlawful discovery and disclosure of confidential information. González faces additional charges of membership in a criminal organization, mismanagement, document falsification, bribery, and disclosure of secrets.
Several former BBVA executives are also expected to appear before the court on similar allegations.
BBVA has previously acknowledged that it hired services from the Cenyt intelligence group but has denied any wrongdoing. The bank has maintained that it is cooperating with judicial authorities throughout the investigation.
The case is closely tied to former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, who became one of Spain's most controversial public figures following multiple corruption investigations. In 2023, Villarejo was sentenced to 19 years in prison in a separate case involving the illegal recording of hundreds of politicians, business leaders, and other public figures, as well as orchestrating campaigns to damage their reputations.
Investigators have alleged that Villarejo's intelligence network carried out covert operations, including surveillance, blackmail, and intimidation, for wealthy individuals and corporate clients over several decades.
The upcoming trial is expected to be one of Spain's most significant corporate legal proceedings in recent years, placing renewed scrutiny on corporate governance practices within the country's banking industry.
No date for the trial has yet been announced.
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