Santos Serdán Released After Spanish Supreme Court Ruling. Santos Serdán leaves prison after eased restrictions. The Supreme Court lowered the flight risk. The former official hopes for a fair resolution of his case.
Wednesday evening near Soto del Real prison was eventful. Hundreds of journalists gathered at the gates, awaiting the appearance of former Organization Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Santos Cerdán. It wasn't until around 8 p.m. that he finally emerged from the building, accompanied by his lawyer, and headed towards the waiting press.
Supreme Court Changes Preventive Measure
Previously, Cerdán was the only defendant in the corruption case who remained in custody. His arrest was linked to an investigation into alleged irregularities in the awarding of government contracts during the tenure of José Luis Ábalos as Minister of Transport. Cerdán spent just over a week in detention, starting June 30, while other suspects—including Ábalos himself and former advisor Koldo García—remained free.
Cerdán and His Circle Respond
Upon leaving the correctional facility, Cerdán thanked his loved ones and legal team for their support. He noted that his case has been surrounded by widespread misinformation and distorted interpretations. According to him, he trusts that justice will prevail and hopes the true circumstances will be clarified.
Interestingly, none of Serdan's family members attended his release. Neither his wife, daughter, nor sister were present. The only person with him was his lawyer, Jacobo Teijelo, who had already visited his client in prison earlier that day.
Next Steps and Expectations
Serdan stated that he plans to provide more detailed comments about his case soon. For now, he preferred to limit himself to a brief statement and left the prison grounds in his lawyer’s car. His attorneys have repeatedly called for his release, arguing that his detention is unjust compared to other suspects in the case.
The Supreme Court's decision to ease his pre-trial restrictions came as a surprise to many observers. Public attention is now focused on what happens next and any new details that may emerge from the investigation.
