The judge has not imposed precautionary measures on Zapatero: he has not seen any risk of escape or destruction of evidence
According to the judge, he has not refuted the reasonable evidence of an offence contained in the indictment.
Zapatero's office register. Photo: Europa Press
The judge of the National High Court, José Luis Calama, will not impose precautionary measures on the former President of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, after testifying as investigated in the Plus Ultra case. The Office of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor requested the withdrawal of the passport, but the judge has not assessedthe risk of escape or the possibility of destruction of evidence.
In an order issued this Wednesday, Calama rules out the measures requested by the prosecution: the withdrawal of his passport, the prohibition of leaving Spain and the obligation to appear in court every fortnight.
They were asking for pretrial detention.
Vox, Hazte Oir, Liberum, and Iustitia Europa, all ofthem, had subsidiarily requested pre-trial detention for the former PSOE leader.
However, the judge asks Zapatero to provide a mobile phone number and email address so that the court can locate him immediately.
The order states that the imposition of precautionary measures requires a particularly rigorous examination because it involves a prior restriction of fundamental rights, which can only be justified if there is evidence of a crime and a proven procedural risk.
In the opinion of Calama, Zapatero has not refuted the reasonable indications of the crime contained in the indictment, which, according to the judge, comes from various sources of evidence.
These include the contents of the devices involved in the searches and records, the footprint of funds related to government public support for Plus Ultra in various bank accounts, and the actions of the companies allegedly used as a means of channelling such payments.
Consequently, the judge does not consider it necessary to imposeprecautionary measures against Zapatero, although the investigation will continue.
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