Salomé Pradas, former Valencian Justice and Interior councillor, has changed her legal team in the dana case. Pedro Colina, known for his role in the ‘Kitchen’ case, now leads her defence. The move comes as the investigation continues.
Salomé Pradas, the former Valencian councillor for Justice and Interior under investigation in the dana case, has made a significant change to her legal defence. She has appointed Pedro Colina, a prominent criminal lawyer, to take over her representation. Colina replaces Eduardo de Urbano, who steps aside for personal reasons, though sources close to Pradas do not rule out his possible return to the case in the future.
Colina is well known in legal circles for his work as the defence lawyer for Francisco Martínez, the former Secretary of State for Security during Mariano Rajoy’s government, in the high-profile ‘Kitchen’ case, which has already gone to sentencing. Both Colina and de Urbano are members of the Kepler-Karst law firm, a detail that underscores the continuity in Pradas’s legal strategy despite the change in lead counsel.
The legal team supporting Pradas will continue to include criminal lawyers Sandra Imedio and Paloma Crespo, ensuring that the defence retains experienced professionals familiar with the complexities of the case. According to information from the former councillor’s circle, the decision for de Urbano to step back was strictly personal and does not reflect any disagreement over the direction of the defence.
Pedro Colina brings more than three decades of experience in economic criminal law and has handled some of Spain’s most complex and high-profile criminal proceedings, as highlighted by Kepler-Karst. His appointment signals a determination to maintain a robust defence as the dana case moves forward in the courts.
This legal reshuffle comes at a time when scrutiny of public officials and their handling of crisis situations remains high in Spain. The dana case, which involves the management of emergency responses, has drawn attention to the responsibilities and decisions of regional authorities. In a related context, recent controversies over crisis management in Valencia have also made headlines, such as the debate surrounding the Devesa de El Saler wildfire and the city’s response, as reported in coverage of the mayor’s defence of municipal actions.
For context, the ‘Kitchen’ case referenced in Colina’s background involved allegations of illegal surveillance and political intrigue at the national level, further illustrating the calibre of legal expertise now involved in Pradas’s defence. The ongoing investigation into the dana case continues to highlight the legal and political challenges faced by former officials in Spain’s regions, with outcomes that could influence future standards for public accountability and crisis management.
