Villarejo Acquitted of Most Charges in ‘Little League’ Espionage Case
Former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo has been largely acquitted by the Spanish National Court (Audiencia Nacional) in the so-called “Little League” case, which investigated allegations of corporate espionage on behalf of several companies. The court found no evidence of police methods or access to police databases being used in the alleged activities. The ruling represents a notable setback for the prosecution, which had sought lengthy prison sentences for Villarejo and other defendants.
No Evidence of Police Involvement
The court explicitly stated that there was no evidence to suggest the use of police methods, resources, or access to police databases in the alleged espionage. The ruling clarifies that “no police intervention whatsoever was found, nor the use of public resources in this case.” Furthermore, there was no proof that Villarejo contacted other police officers to obtain facts or engage in call trafficking.
Discrepancies in Call logs and Secret Revelations
Regarding the alleged revelation of secrets, the court found it could not presume how Villarejo obtained a call log of businessman Javier Pérez Gil, which was presented as evidence in an Excel spreadsheet. The court acknowledged that the method of access to this list remained unproven, stating, “It is certain that the way of accessing said list has not been proven, wiht the rigor that the criminal process demands.”
Falsification of Commercial Documents
The court acknowledged that some invoices were altered “for reasons of reservation or confidentiality,” but steadfast that these invoices represented services that were genuinely provided. While recognizing discrepancies in the stated purpose of some invoices, the court ruled that these discrepancies did not affect thier legal validity as commercial documents. The court stated that the alterations were made to conceal the true nature of the contracted activity but did not impact the invoices’ standing in commercial transactions with parties outside the company. Consequently, Villarejo was acquitted of this charge.
The court also noted that even if the falsification had been proven, the statute of limitations – five years – had expired.
Sentencing Requests and outcome
the Public Prosecutor’s Office had requested a 12-year prison sentence for Villarejo, 4 years and 6 months for Rafael Redondo, and 7 years for Manuel Chávarri. However,the court’s decision resulted in a largely favorable outcome for the defendants.
Key Takeaways
- José Manuel Villarejo was largely acquitted in the “Little League” corporate espionage case.
- The court found no evidence of police involvement or misuse of police resources.
- Discrepancies in invoices were deemed insufficient to prove criminal wrongdoing.
- The prosecution’s requested sentences were not imposed.