Defense promotes Antonio Balas to colonel, who will continue to lead the anti-corruption front of the UCO

The Official Gazette of the Ministry of Defense has published the promotion to colonel of Antonio Balas, who will continue to head the anti-corruption department of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard on secondment, as requested by the judge of the National Court Ismael Moreno.

The order, signed by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, details that Balas will continue in the UCO on a "service commission, of a non-compensable nature." "The dismissal from the commission will occur when the causes that motivate it disappear, the successful bidder of the vacancy joins, obtains a position or when the established maximum term has expired," he points out.

Last July, the judge of the National Court investigating the Koldo case and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office asked the head of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard that Balas remain among the investigating agents for this case, even if he were promoted, which would force the departure of this unit.

Antonio Balas heads the Department of Economic Research and Anti-Corruption (DICEAN) of the UCO, in charge of judicial cases that affect the PSOE and the family environment of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.

The new colonel of the Civil Guard has directed the investigations that affect the brother and wife of the head of the Executive, as well as the alleged plot led by the former socialist militant Leire Díez to destabilize judicial cases.

It is also investigating the former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE Santos Cerdán for his alleged relationship both in the Díez case and in the Koldo case and is investigating the possible rigging of public contracts and possible irregularities in the PSOE accounts.