Overview
- The Audiencia Nacional cleared José Manuel Villarejo, his partner Rafael Redondo and businessman Antonio Erico Chávarri of bribery, disclosure of secrets and falsity in commercial documents in piece 29 of the Tándem case.
- The court said it saw no evidence of police resources being used and no proof that Villarejo contacted other officers to obtain information or call records.
- Magistrates noted the defendants held a call list related to the probe but described an “authentic evidentiary void” on how it was obtained, which barred a conviction.
- Judges accepted that some invoice descriptions were altered for confidentiality yet concluded the bills reflected real private services, so the conduct did not meet the criminal standard for mercantile falsity.
- The anti-corruption prosecutor had sought 12 years in prison for Villarejo, 4 years and 6 months for Redondo and 7 years for Chávarri, in a case alleging a paid probe worth more than €400,000.