A high-profile trial is heating up in Madrid: Judge Arturo Zamarriego from the capital’s Ninth Investigative Court has summoned former PSOE organization secretary Santos Cerdán and current Secretary of State for Telecommunications Antonio Hernando to testify as witnesses on February 2. Their statements are expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the case against former socialist activist Leire Díez and businessman Javier Pérez-Dolset, who are suspected of attempting to discredit the leadership of the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office and the civil guard’s UCO unit.
Investigators believe that Díez and Pérez-Dolset may have orchestrated a scheme aimed at undermining trust in key institutions responsible for probing corruption among politicians and business figures. During preliminary hearings, both defendants denied acting on behalf of the party but admitted to meeting with Cerdán shortly after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez published a letter in April 2024 related to the case against his wife Begoña Gómez.
The court is paying particular attention to whether Díez acted independently as a journalist or had close ties with the PSOE leadership. In one of the audio recordings included in the case, she refers to Cedrán as her ‘right hand.’ Pérez-Dolset clarified that at one of the meetings, where possible surveillance by former commissioner José Manuel Villarejo was discussed, Antonio Hernando, who was then deputy chief of staff for the government, was also present.
Investigating PSOE ties and the role of key witnesses
The judge has sent an official inquiry to PSOE, demanding confirmation within ten days as to whether Leire Díez was a member of the party, when she ended her membership, whether she held any positions, and if she received any compensation. Díez had previously said she had belonged to the party for almost twenty years but left in the summer of 2024 after the scandal involving a recording in which she allegedly offered a defendant in the oil products case a deal with prosecutors in exchange for information.
Additionally, the court is seeking to determine whether Sedrán and Hernando were members of the party or the government, and whether they held any roles within these organizations. As part of the investigation, entrepreneur Luis del Rivero will also be summoned—he organized the meeting between Díez, Pérez-Dolset, and prosecutor Ignacio Stampa on May 7. Del Rivero’s office has previously hosted meetings between Stampa and other prominent politicians, including former Madrid regional president Esperanza Aguirre and Vox party leader Santiago Abascal.
Prosecutor Stampa recorded his conversation with Díez and Pérez-Dolset, which is now included in the case evidence. In the audio, Díez says she reported to Sedrán, while Pérez-Dolset claims the prime minister instructed them to ‘purge’ the prosecution service and police of wrongdoing.
Audio recordings, new interviews, and a technical investigation
The case includes not only testimonies but also several audio recordings. One of them, released by the media, features a conversation between Díez, Pérez-Dolset, and Sedrán’s lawyer Jacobo Teijelo. During the meeting, they connected via video call with Alejandro Hamlyn, a defendant in a petroleum-related case, offering him information about UCO staff in exchange for the possibility of negotiating with the prosecution and the state’s legal team.
The judge summoned Hamlin to testify on the same day as Sedrana, Hernando, and del Rivero. Additionally, both audio recordings—the conversation with Stampa and the meeting with Hamlin—have been sent to the police lab for technical analysis. In the first, experts are to enhance the audio quality; in the second, to determine who exactly could have made the recording.
Investigation advances: new developments and growing anticipation
The court proceedings in the case of Dies and Pérez-Dolset are gaining momentum. Investigators are working to determine how deeply party and government representatives were involved in attempts to influence the work of anti-corruption agencies. More questioning is expected soon and, possibly, new evidence that could alter the course of the case.
It remains unclear whether the accused acted purely on their own initiative or whether more influential figures were behind their actions. The hearings promise to shed light on the complex relationships between politicians, business, and law enforcement in Spain.
New details are expected over the coming weeks that could significantly impact the investigation and those involved.
