Spanish court docket drops investigation into Repsol chairman in alleged spying case

MADRID, June 2 (Reuters) – Spain’s Excessive Courtroom has dropped a proper investigation into the chairman of oil firm Repsol (REP.MC) Antonio Brufau after it discovered no proof of his alleged participation in a decade-old spying case, a court docket doc confirmed on Thursday.

The investigating decide Manuel Garcia Castellon additionally dismissed an investigation towards former Caixabank’s (CABK.MC) chairman Isidro Faine and each firms, Repsol and Caixabank.

The decide was investigating whether or not Repsol and Caixabank employed Grupo Cenyt, a safety agency belonging to former police chief Jose Manuel Villarejo, to spy on the then chairman of development firm Sacyr (SCYR.MC), Luis del Rivero, in 2011 and 2012.

Following the tip of investigations into Brufau and Faine, former police chief Villarejo and two former safety administrators at Repsol and Caixabank are poised to face trial in a number of months’ time for alleged spying.

Garcia Castellon beforehand closed the case for the 2 executives and the businesses in July, however a better court docket reversed his determination in February. Below Spanish legislation, it’s nonetheless attainable to enchantment the decide’s newest determination.

Garcia Castellon stated each firms complied with the necessities set out within the legislation to forestall crimes and that “there is no such thing as a proof or suspicion” that Brufau or Faine knew in regards to the hiring of Cenyt or Villarejo, the outcomes of the alleged spying or the funds allegedly made.

Caixabank welcomed the choice and stated it had sufficient inside controls in place to forestall crime. Repsol referred to a press release issued in July the place it welcomed the earlier closure and stated it was dedicated to full cooperation with the justice system.

Reporting by Emma Pinedo; enhancing by Barbara Lewis and Angus MacSwan

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