Prosecutor in Spain's Kitchen trial says operation was a 'criminal parapolice' plot to obstruct Gürtel case

Final arguments

Anti-corruption prosecutor César de Rivas presented his final conclusions on Tuesday in the trial of the so-called 'Kitchen operation', telling the Audiencia Nacional that the evidence proves the operation was a 'criminal parapolice' device designed to 'boycott and obstruct' the judicial investigation into the Gürtel corruption case. The trial, which began on 6 April 2026, reached its 32nd session with the prosecutor's summation.

“It had nothing to do with investigating the Gürtel case, but rather obtaining documentation to boycott the Gürtel case.”

De Rivas dismissed the defence argument that the operation was a legitimate intelligence-gathering effort to trace Bárcenas's hidden assets abroad. He noted that the information about Swiss bank accounts had already been incorporated into the Gürtel investigation, and that the operatives never informed the investigating judge or the police unit handling the case.

Targeting Bárcenas

The prosecutor described how the operation, carried out in 2013 during Mariano Rajoy's government, focused on recruiting Bárcenas's driver Sergio Ríos as an informant and conducting surveillance on Bárcenas's wife Rosalía Iglesias. The real objective, he said, was to seize sensitive documents and recordings that Bárcenas claimed to possess, which could implicate senior PP figures.

“From the moment the operation was conceived, its criminal purpose was clear. It was aimed at obtaining information and documentation that could be compromising for the PP and its top leaders, precisely to boycott that judicial investigation.”

De Rivas relied heavily on the diaries of retired commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, who is also on trial. He cited an entry from 5 February 2013 discussing the possible location of material at Bárcenas's mother's house in Riaza, Segovia, and later notes about the need for tighter control over the former treasurer.

Ministerial involvement

The prosecutor stated that the participation of then-Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz and his deputy Francisco Martínez had been 'proven in the trial'. He pointed to incriminating messages between the two, which Martínez had registered before a notary, as well as Villarejo's diary references to 'Chisco' (Martínez).

“The participation, from the moment of the recruitment of Sergio Ríos, of both Francisco Martínez, Secretary of State, and Jorge Fernández Díaz, in his capacity as Interior Minister, has been proven.”

De Rivas argued that the top officials exercised indirect control over Ríos through the direct handlers, with Villarejo's notes showing that Martínez was kept informed and requested a 'specific plan' for the operation.

Sentences requested

The prosecution maintained its sentencing requests, which were confirmed on Monday. The demands range from 19 years for Villarejo, described as the handler of the driver-turned-informant, to 15 years each for Fernández Díaz, Martínez, former deputy operational director Eugenio Pino, and commissioner Andrés Gómez Gordo. Former driver Sergio Ríos faces 12 and a half years, while former internal affairs chief Marcelino Martín Blas faces two and a half years. The prosecutor seeks no penalty for commissioner José Luis Olivera.

José Manuel Villarejo19

Jorge Fernández Díaz15

Francisco Martínez15

Eugenio Pino15

Andrés Gómez Gordo15

Sergio Ríos12.5

Marcelino Martín Blas2.5

José Manuel Villarejo

19 years

Jorge Fernández Díaz

15 years

Francisco Martínez

15 years

Eugenio Pino

15 years

Andrés Gómez Gordo

15 years

Sergio Ríos

12.5 years

Marcelino Martín Blas

2.5 years

Data from the article text

The trial now moves to the remaining prosecution arguments, followed by defence summations and the defendants' right to a final statement. The court is presided over by judge Teresa Palacios.