The businesswoman Carmen Pano appears in the 'Leire Díez case': she reported a bribe and claimed to have taken 90,000 euros to the PSOE headquarters

The businesswoman Carmen Pano appears this Monday as a witness before Judge Santiago Pedraz in the Audiencia Nacional as part of the investigation into the ‘Leire Díez case’. Her statement comes after she reported an alleged bribery attempt to influence her testimony related to the delivery of 90,000 euros that she claims to have made at the PSOE headquarters in Ferraz.

The case summary places former socialist militant Leire Díez and former PSOE Organization Secretary, Santos Cerdán, at the center of an alleged operation aimed at obtaining sensitive information and acting on judicial investigations affecting the PSOE, the Government, and the inner circle of President Pedro Sánchez.

Pano informed the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard that lawyer Leticia de la Hoz, Koldo García's defense attorney, had allegedly offered her 50,000 euros in exchange for modifying her version regarding the 90,000 euros in cash that she claims to have transferred to Ferraz. The lawyer, who is summoned as an investigated party on July 14, rejected these accusations in a statement.

This Monday's session will concentrate the only appearances scheduled by the magistrate this week. Among the witnesses called to testify is also Álvaro Gallego, the driver who accompanied Pano to the vicinity of the socialist headquarters and who, according to the businesswoman's version, would also have received an economic offer not to support her story. Likewise, a woman from Jaén who initiated a judicial case against anti-corruption prosecutor José Grinda is expected to testify. According to the investigation, Leire Díez would have intervened to help her find employment in her town.

The round of interrogations will continue next week with new appearances. Among them, the president of the PSOE, Cristina Narbona, stands out, summoned as a witness for next July 10.

To date, Judge Santiago Pedraz has already taken statements from several witnesses linked to the Civil Guard and the investigation into the alleged leaks in the Koldo case. Among them are the general in charge of the Information Headquarters of the armed institute and Commander Juan Manuel Barco Mostazo, acting secretary of the Deputy Operational Director (DAO), who appeared to clarify the actions carried out in a reserved investigation opened to determine the origin of said leaks. Likewise, this Thursday, Santos Cerdán's lawyer, Jacobo Teijelo, was summoned as part of a round of interrogations with which the magistrate is trying to clarify the circumstances surrounding this investigation.