For decades, José Manuel Villarejo built his career in Spain’s National Police, joining the force in the final years of the Franco regime. After retiring in 2016, his name became central to a major investigation involving contract espionage and multi-million-euro deals. Just a year after leaving the force, Villarejo was arrested and placed in pretrial detention, as the case expanded nationwide, implicating politicians, business leaders, and even members of the royal family.
However, the first six trials in this high-profile case produced unexpected results. More defendants were acquitted than convicted, and the prison sentences handed down were much shorter than what prosecutors had demanded. Among those cleared were Villarejo’s wife and son, as well as top executives from major Spanish companies. Despite three guilty verdicts, the former commissioner remains free, as the court’s decisions have not yet taken effect.
The outcomes of the first trials
The Villarejo case has become a true test for Spain’s justice system. So far, 35 people have stood trial: 19 have been fully acquitted, one released for health reasons, and 15 given actual prison sentences. Most of those convicted received only minimal punishment—no more than a year behind bars.
Villarejo himself received three sentences: 13, 8, and 3 years in prison, respectively. Nevertheless, he remains free, as none of the sentences have become final. The prosecution initially sought almost 200 years of imprisonment for him, but the actual terms turned out to be eight times less. Defense lawyers argue that the charges were greatly exaggerated, and many of the alleged incidents were not proven in court.
The key issue — bribery
Special attention during the proceedings was given to the bribery charges. The first major trial, which began in October 2021, concerned three espionage cases known as the Iron, Land, and Pintor projects. Although the court acknowledged the existence of a criminal scheme and admitted Villarejo’s recorded conversations as evidence, most of the defendants were acquitted, including his wife and son.
Prosecutors insisted that Villarejo committed crimes using his official position. However, the judges concluded that he acted as a private individual, not as a police officer. This position became decisive in subsequent trials, resulting in bribery charges being dropped in almost all cases. The fate of this charge now depends on the Supreme Court, which must consider the appeals in the cases of Villarejo and his associate, lawyer Rafael Redondo.
Acquittal of top executives
In two other cases, Villarejo was found guilty of contract spying for Grupo Planeta, Repsol, and Caixabank, receiving three and eight years in prison, respectively. However, the court limited responsibility to the commissioner himself and his closest aides. Five top executives of these companies, who were also implicated in the case, were fully acquitted.
The judges found that the company executives were unaware of Villarejo’s status as an active police officer and did not know about the illegal access to confidential information. Four of those acquitted had previously worked in the police but were on voluntary leave at the time.
Two recent victories for the defense
The last two cases ended in a full acquittal for Villarejo. In October, he avoided 23 years in prison over the Saving project, even though the court acknowledged he had been paid half a million euros for espionage. The judges ruled that it had not been proven he used his official position to access secret data.
In November, Villarejo was acquitted again over the alleged gathering of information on a businessman from Marbella (Málaga). Although his team did gain access to confidential data, the court found no evidence of Villarejo’s personal involvement in the illegal acquisition of information. Prosecutors had sought another nine-year sentence for him.
For reference, José Manuel Villarejo is a former commissioner of the National Police of Spain, who gained notoriety as a central figure in one of the country’s largest corruption scandals. His name has been linked to dozens of investigations involving politicians, business figures, and members of the elite. Despite numerous charges, Villarejo remains at liberty, and his legal saga has become a symbol of the complex relationship between law enforcement and big business in Spain.
