Spanish banking giant charged with corruption

Spain's National Court has charged Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) with "corruption and breach of confidence,” a court spokesman said on Monday. Anti-corruption prosecutors had referred the case to the high court five days earlier.

BBVA is Spain's second-largest bank, with a strong presence in Latin America and the south eastern United States. In Mexico, its subsidiary Bancomer is the largest financial institution in the country.

The bank is suspected of contracting disgraced former police chief Jose Manuel Villarejo to illegally tap the phones of journalists, politicians and businesspeople in 2004.

Villarejo, who has been in jail since 2017, is suspected of having carried out blackmail, threats and wiretapping, on behalf of companies or rich individuals for decades, through his business intelligence firm Cenyt.

Spanish media reported that BBVA had hired Villarejo's firm, Cenyt, to investigate officials belonging to the construction company Sacyr, as part of BBVA's efforts to stop Sacyr's unsuccessful bid to take over the bank in 2004.

BBVA ultimately admitted to having used the services Cenyt. But the bank has denied any wrongdoing and said an internal investigation is underway.

In a statement, BBVA's Executive Chairman Carlos Torres stressed the company's "firm commitment to clarifying the facts and complying with the law."

Nonetheless, nine former or current managers at the bank are under formal investigation in the case. Some BBVA executives have also been accused of receiving gifts from Cenyt in exchange for awarding contracts.

Francisco Gonzalez, who as executive chairman of BBVA was its top leader, resigned from all his posts, including honorary ones, on March 2019, as a result of the probe.

jcg/aw (EFE, AFP, Reuters, AP)

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