Begoña Gómez and associates face jury trial after preliminary hearing in Madrid court

In a sealed preliminary hearing at the Juzgado de Instrucción nº 41 in Madrid, Begoña Gómez, Cristina Álvarez and Juan Carlos Barrabés were brought before Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who had previously indicated that police could be used to ensure their appearance. The hearing, lasting over three hours, concluded with the judge authorising a popular jury trial and imposing precautionary measures, including passport withdrawal and a ban on leaving the country, on Gómez and Álvarez.

The prosecution alleged that Gómez engaged in influence-peddling, embezzlement, misappropriation and corruption linked to university contracts and her relationship with Barrabés; Álvarez and Barrabés were charged with portions of the same conduct. The Audiencia Provincial later revoked some of the precautionary orders, excluded Barrabés from the jury process and limited the scope of the case against Gómez. The intermediate phase of the trial is now underway, with jury selection and potential testimony from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pending.