Spain’s Anticorruption Prosecutor supports charging ex-Correos chief Juan Manuel Serrano and examining his phone. The court must now decide on broader device searches amid a growing political scandal.
Spain’s Anticorruption Prosecutor has formally endorsed bringing charges against Juan Manuel Serrano, the former president of Correos and ex-chief of staff to Pedro Sánchez, and supports the forensic analysis of his mobile phone. This move follows a report from the Guardia Civil highlighting Serrano’s “prominent role” in an alleged scheme to undermine judicial investigations, a case that has drawn significant attention due to its links with senior PSOE figures and the government.
The prosecutor’s position, confirmed to EL PAÍS by judicial sources, marks a turning point in the so-called Leire Díez case. While the Anticorruption office agrees with the request to examine Serrano’s device, it opposes the Guardia Civil’s proposal to also analyze the phones of Ana Fuentes, the PSOE’s manager, and two other party employees implicated in the investigation. The final decision now rests with Judge Santiago Pedraz, who must determine the scope of the digital searches requested by the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil.
According to the latest UCO report, Serrano maintained regular contact with Leire Díez, a former PSOE member at the center of the case. Investigators allege that their communications went beyond sporadic exchanges, referencing frequent meetings and encounters, some involving Vicente Fernández, the former president of SEPI and another figure under investigation. The report suggests that Serrano and Fernández coordinated Díez’s entry into Correos, potentially enabling members of the network to secure influential positions within the public administration for personal or third-party benefit.
Evidence cited by the UCO includes messages between Fernández and Díez, such as assurances that her appointment at Correos was predetermined. Internal communications reportedly show that José Luis Pérez, deputy secretary of the postal company, sent Díez a draft of the job profile she was to occupy, inviting her to make any changes she deemed necessary. These details have intensified scrutiny of the recruitment process and the possible manipulation of public sector appointments.
The case has already prompted broader political fallout, with senior PSOE officials distancing themselves from those under investigation. For example, María Jesús Montero recently expressed regret over her trust in Vicente Fernández as the SEPI scandal widened, a development covered in detail in a related report on the growing impact of the Leire case within the PSOE.
As the investigation continues, the court’s upcoming decision on whether to authorize further analysis of mobile devices will be closely watched. The outcome could set a precedent for how digital evidence is handled in high-profile political cases in Spain. The Leire Díez case underscores ongoing concerns about the integrity of public appointments and the mechanisms available to law enforcement and the judiciary to address alleged corruption at the highest levels of government. Correos, SEPI, and the PSOE have all faced increased scrutiny as investigators seek to clarify the extent of coordination and possible misuse of influence within public institutions. The case also highlights the growing reliance on digital communications as key evidence in complex corruption probes, raising questions about privacy, due process, and the balance between investigative needs and individual rights.
