The Diplomat
The Audiencia Provincial de Zaragoza has agreed to shelve the case known as the ‘Ghali case’ for the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya, as it sees no evidence of a crime in relation to the entry into Spain of the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali. She also confirmed the dismissal of the case against the former head of the Foreign Office Camilo Villarino.
Ghali entered the country to be treated by COVID-19 on the night of 18 April 2021, without going through border controls or documentation, which would later unleash a serious conflict with Morocco. A couple of months later, González Laya was relieved as head of Foreign Affairs by José Manuel Albares.
According to an order issued on Thursday, to which Europa Press had access, the judge has lifted the charges against the former minister, following the arguments put forward by the State Attorney’s Office, which reiterated that there were no elements to prove a possible crime of prevarication, concealment or falsehood on the part of any of the former government officials.
The court points out that it does not share the investigating judge’s criterion, and affirms that “although it is undeniable that González Laya was aware of the intention that Ghali be treated in Spain and took an active part in the preparations that led to this”, however, “there is no evidence to support the conclusion that she knew of the existence of a judicial interest in that person”.
Specifically, the State’s legal services argued, in an 18-page document, that the facts accredited in the framework of the investigation “do not constitute any offence”.
“It is therefore appropriate not to unnecessarily lengthen the investigation into my defendants, due to the adverse effects and consequences for them,” they said. This, they stressed, “without prejudice to the possible continuation or maintenance of the proceedings in relation to other investigated parties in relation to the possible crime of falsehood”.
