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The judge of

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

who is instructing the

'Mediator case

' has refused to release the retired General of the Civil Guard

Francisco Espinosa Navas

, in provisional prison since February 16 for his alleged involvement in crimes of bribery, influence peddling and participation in an organized criminal group.

In an order notified this Friday, to which EL MUNDO has had access, the judge responds to

Espinosa

's defense that the reasons for which he ordered his imprisonment are maintained, which was justified by the need to avoid the destruction of evidence .

"To guarantee the effectiveness of the procedural investigation and the availability of the accused to judicial appeals (...) the request for provisional release is rejected."

And the magistrate adds that the prison was agreed, she says, "to guarantee access to certain means of evidence that could be harmed in the event that the measure" of prison had not been adopted.

That risk, she understands, remains.

"

There is a real risk of destruction of evidence

", ditch.

The judge, who is supported by the

Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office

in this decision, stresses that the Internal Affairs Service of the Civil Guard has carried out a "massive action" to collect evidence and data of interest to this case, without any no "abandonment of duties or police inaction during the scarce two weeks in which the challenged provisional prison is in force."

The instructor shares with the Prosecutor's Office that Espinosa Navas

must be kept in prison

"for the time strictly necessary" so as not to compromise the investigation, because she considers that at this moment there is "a real risk of destruction of evidence."

For this reason, she agrees "to maintain the precautionary measure, not to analyze the evidence, but to obtain it."

In this case, General

Espinosa Navas

is accused of collaborating in a plot that collected bribes from businessmen from various sectors in exchange for obtaining contracts, public aid or stopping disciplinary proceedings.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • Santa Cruz of Tenerife

  • Ministry of Defence

  • Justice

  • Mediator Case