Spain is at the center of a judicial scandal involving the activities of a private security company that provided safety at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The head of the firm is accused of orchestrating large-scale surveillance of Julian Assange and his visitors, among whom were prominent politicians and lawyers.
A judge of the National Court in Madrid has decided to refer the case to trial, where charges will be considered against David Morales Guillén, manager of Undercover Global (UC Global). Investigators claim he not only arranged for the installation of cameras recording both video and audio, but also transmitted the collected materials to third parties, including, reportedly, ‘friends in the US.’ Among the guests whose conversations may have been recorded were former presidents of several Latin American countries, as well as Spanish politicians and Assange’s lawyers.
UC Global, an Andalusia-based company, secured the embassy’s security contract during a particularly tense period surrounding Assange’s asylum. The company’s staff maintained round-the-clock surveillance, and in 2017, under instructions from management, new audio-capable cameras were installed. Lawyers and visitors were assured that no audio was being recorded, although in reality, the opposite was true.
The investigation also revealed that Morales, using complex schemes and intermediaries, regularly transferred large sums to Ecuadorian officials to maintain a lucrative contract. Another UC Global employee, Michel Vallemac, is also mentioned in the case and is accused of participating in the collection and transmission of classified information. The court gave the parties ten days to prepare indictments or motions to dismiss the case. If appeals are denied, the process will move to an open trial.
