The Supreme Court of Spain has once again denied the request to release Santos Cerdán, the former Organization Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party. The decision was made by Judge Leopoldo Puente, who emphasized that the circumstances which led to Cerdán’s detention at the end of June still remain.
The judge acknowledged that he understands the impatience of the defendant and his lawyers, but promised to review the release request as soon as it becomes possible. At the same time, he declined to reveal the specific details that, in his view, justify maintaining the current precautionary measure. It is only known that the issue is not related to delays in submitting a financial report, but rather the need to protect certain pieces of evidence that are still being examined by investigators.
The court believes that Cerdán may possess complete information about the alleged corruption scheme, making him a central figure in the case. According to the judge, this poses a risk of interfering with the investigation—such as the possible destruction or alteration of important evidence. For this reason, the court considers it premature to release the politician, despite the fact that other defendants in the case, including former minister José Ábalos and his adviser Koldo García, remain free after refusing to testify.
Serdan’s lawyers argue that their client is at a disadvantage compared to other defendants in the case. They believe the court has not provided compelling reasons for Serdan’s continued detention and stress that they see no grounds to fear he might destroy evidence. Nevertheless, the judge rejected the defense’s arguments, noting that Serdan’s situation differs from others due to his role and access to information.
Case files emphasize that Serdan may have been aware of details regarding the alleged government contract manipulation scheme during Abalos’ tenure as head of the Ministry of Transport. Investigators believe his position allowed him to oversee critical processes, which served as grounds for a stricter preventive measure.
It remains unclear when the court will reconsider the possibility of Serdan’s release. The investigation is ongoing, and according to the judge, any change in position will only be possible after all the evidence has been reviewed.
