Pedro Sanchez's wife accused of corruption

The wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Begonja Gomez, has been charged with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds, following a two-year investigation led by a judge in Madrid.

Gomez (55) is accused of using her influence as the wife of a socialist prime minister to secure and run a position at Madrid's Complutense University, as well as using public resources and personal connections to advance her own private interests, the Guardian reported.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado also confirmed the indictment against Cristina Alvarez, Begonja Gomez's personal assistant, and businessman Juan Carlos Barabes in this case.

All defendants denied any guilt.

The investigation against Gomes was launched based on a complaint from the organization Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a self-proclaimed union linked to the far right, which has a history of using the courts to persecute those it considers a threat to Spain's democratic interests.

Sanchez has repeatedly dismissed the case against his wife as a baseless and politically motivated smear campaign. The prime minister has accused his political and media opponents of persecuting his family, and has openly questioned the impartiality of some members of the judiciary.

The judge, in a 39-page decision, stated, among other things, that there was evidence of behavior at the Monclova Palace - the seat of government and the official residence of the Prime Minister - that "more closely resembles the practice of absolutist regimes and which, fortunately, has been forgotten in our country over the years."

The prime minister, who said last year that "there is no doubt that there are judges who engage in politics and politicians who try to judge," said he was confident that justice would be served and that his wife would be acquitted.

“What I ask of the judiciary is that it bring justice,” Sanchez said during a visit to China on Tuesday. “That justice be served. And since I am convinced that time will put everything and everyone in their place, I have nothing more to add.”

Peinado, who is due to retire in September, has given the parties to the case five days to comment on his decision. The court will then decide whether Gomes will face a jury trial.

The decision to formally charge Gomes comes at a sensitive time for Sanchez, as his younger brother David is due to stand trial next month on influence peddling charges. According to another complaint by Manos Limpias, David Sanchez was given a specially created position in the city government of the southwestern city of Badajoz, which is run by the Socialists, in July 2017, at a time when his brother was the national leader of the Socialist party. He denies the charges.