Detectives from the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard unexpectedly arrested former SEPI president Vicente Fernández, former socialist activist Leire Díez, and Servinabar owner Joseba Antxon Alonso. The arrest was triggered when Fernández noticed he was being followed on his way to a meeting with Díez. This took place as part of an investigation into an alleged scheme involving illegal commissions through fake contracts and the distribution of state subsidies.
Investigators believe Fernández received at least €49,350 in kickbacks, while Díez, according to the investigation, staged the sale of a car to pocket €21,500. The probe began after the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office uncovered five suspicious transactions totaling €132.9 million, linked to Díez and the former SEPI executive.
Urgent Measures
The case escalated on December 10, when Fernández, who had just arrived in Madrid from Portugal, noticed he was being tailed. He was supposed to meet Díez at a café in a shopping center. Realizing he was under surveillance, Fernández tried to evade the police, violating traffic rules in the process. Fearing the suspects might destroy evidence or alert each other, investigators decided to make immediate arrests.
On the same day, the prosecutor’s office filed an urgent appeal, and the case materials were handed over to the National Court Chamber. Judge Antonio Piña took control of the case and authorized the searches, which continued until Friday. UCO officers seized documents at the postal service, the tax office, and the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
Further investigation
On Saturday, all three detainees appeared in court and were released, as the prosecutor’s office did not request pre-trial detention. Afterwards, Judge Piña handed the case over to another judge because he was on duty. On Monday, the investigation was transferred to Judge Santiago Pedraz, who is now leading the process.
The case remains under seal, with no plans to lift it in the coming weeks. Investigators are still reviewing the large volume of seized materials—19 searches have been conducted across the country in total. According to those involved, many details still need to be clarified due to the haste with which the case was handed over to the court.
Scheme and participants
The three suspects—Díez, Fernández, and Alonso—did not communicate via ordinary messengers but used the encrypted app Threema to ensure maximum confidentiality. The case files note that the suspects took steps to conceal their activities and maintain anonymity.
This is the very app Alonso previously used to communicate with Acciona executives, who are also implicated in another investigation over suspected manipulation of government contracts. The first evidence in the current case was discovered back in June during searches at the owner of Servinabar.
Multi-million euro transactions
Investigators are examining five major deals: the SEPI bailout of Tubos Reunidos, a Mercasa contract with Servinabar, a construction contract in PEPA Park in Asturias, and a contract between the state-owned company Enusa and a law firm in Seville. The total amount involved in these suspicious transactions is €132.9 million.
According to investigators, most of the commissions went through the company Mediaciones Martínez S.L., totaling €750,614. Investigators believe participants in the scheme invested these funds in real estate in Marbella and Jaca. Some of the money, however, may have been pocketed by individual suspects. Notably, Diez is alleged to have received €21,500 by staging the sale of a car she continued to use. The UCO believes this was a sham transaction to launder funds.
