Spain is facing a major corruption scandal involving former Socialist Leire Díez and ex-president of the state-owned company SEPI, Vicente Fernández Guerrero. Investigators allege the scheme began as soon as the Socialists came to power in the summer of 2018. According to the prosecution, that is when suspicious deals involving public contracts and subsidies began to take place, with both individuals at the center of the case.
The investigation is being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and a special unit of the Civil Guard. The case is currently before the National Court, and details of the investigation have not yet been made public. It is known that Díez took a position at the state-owned company ENUSA Industrias Avanzadas SA, which answers to SEPI, while Fernández became head of SEPI itself. They are accused of fraud, forgery, embezzlement, abuse of influence, and official misconduct.
Investigation details
On Wednesday, a third suspect was detained in the province of Bizkaia, whose identity has not yet been disclosed. On Thursday, investigators continued searches at companies in Madrid, Seville, and Zaragoza. Special attention is being paid to Cistec Technology, based in the Basque Country and Navarre. Díez was a member of this company’s board of directors from 2021 to 2023, immediately after leaving ENUSA. During the same period, she also served as director of philately and institutional relations at Correos.
Interestingly, since 2018, 25% of Cistec Technology has been owned by SEPI—right after Fernández was appointed. Following the state’s investment, the company began to regularly receive large subsidies and government contracts. Cistec representatives insist that there have been no violations, and that Díez did not receive any compensation for her work on the board of directors.
Trails in Seville
The second line of investigation leads to Seville, where the bar La Bola is located on the island of La Cartuja. Since 2023, the establishment has been owned by a company believed by investigators to be controlled by the former head of SEPI. After the change in ownership, the bar suddenly became highly profitable, despite previously operating at a loss. Investigators are looking into whether the business may have been used to launder funds obtained illegally.
At the same time, investigators are reviewing property acquired by Fernández after his appointment at SEPI. He owns an apartment of over 300 square meters in the upscale Puerta de Hierro district of Madrid, two houses in the prestigious El Aljarafe suburb near Seville, and three properties in Marbella, including a beachfront residence, garages, and storage units. According to investigators, the total value of these assets exceeds four million euros.
Connections and Income
Investigators are also looking into Fernández’s role as an external advisor for Servinabar 2000, a company based in Navarra. According to the investigation, this firm is linked to former PSOE organizational secretary Santos Cerdán and is mentioned in a separate case before the Supreme Court that also involves former minister José Luis Ábalos. Documents indicate that Servinabar paid Fernández €68,632 in 2021 and €33,251 in 2023. Additionally, Navarra tax authorities reported withholdings of €40,800 in 2022, though the exact income for that year is not specified.
Searches and interrogations continue as part of the investigation, with case materials remaining classified. Authorities do not rule out the emergence of new episodes or suspects related to the allocation of public funds and contracts.
RUSSPAIN.COM reports that SEPI (Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales) is a state-owned holding company managing shares in Spain’s strategic enterprises. The organization plays a key role in the country’s economy, overseeing companies in sectors such as energy, transport, and defense. In recent years, SEPI has repeatedly been in the spotlight due to high-profile personnel changes and investigations concerning the allocation of public funds.
