BBVA and former chairman to stand trial over alleged illegal assignments to ex-police commissioner

Spain's National Court has ordered BBVA, its former chairman Francisco González and another 14 people to stand trial over alleged illegal assignments awarded to former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo between 2004 and 2016.

Judge Antonio Piña is sending the bank to trial on one count of bribery and 52 counts of unlawful discovery and disclosure of secrets. He has also set a bond of 1.17 million euros to cover possible civil liabilities and given the defendants ten days to submit their defence briefs.

Francisco González will be tried for alleged offences of bribery, disclosure of secrets, membership of a criminal organisation, mismanagement and falsification of documents. Several former BBVA executives and former police commanders linked to Villarejo will also be in the dock alongside him.

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is seeking 173 years in prison for the former chairman of BBVA, while requesting 216 years for Villarejo and 243 years for the bank's former head of security, Julio Corrochano, for their alleged role in the scheme.

According to prosecutors, the hiring of the company Cenyt, linked to Villarejo, was authorised by the bank's top management and carried out outside internal procedures.