Spanish judge Juan Carlos Peinado has concluded the investigation into the wife of Prime Minister Sanchez, which has long been a subject of political debate, and ruled in a decision made one week before his retirement that Begona Gomez will stand trial.
Peinado decided to open a case against Gomez on charges of influence peddling and misappropriation of funds, and ruled that she be tried before a jury.
Gomez is accused of using the influence of her husband, Prime Minister Sanchez, to secure business connections and committing irregularities in the procurement of a software program while managing an academic chair at the Complutense University of Madrid and two master's programs she co-directed.
The Spanish judge also ruled that a case be opened against Gomez's advisor, Cristina Alvarez, solely on charges of misappropriation of funds related to the irregular use of software.
The far-right association Hazte Oir, which brought the accusations against the Prime Minister's wife, is seeking a prison sentence of up to 13 years for Gomez.
With Begona Gomez taking the defendant's seat, it will be the first time in Spanish history that the wife of a prime minister has been tried.
News Source: 12punto
