Spanish judge calls on top Sanchez ally to testify over alleged public works kickbacks
MADRID, June 12 (Reuters) - A Spanish Supreme Court judge on Thursday invited a senior official in Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Party to testify, saying there was evidence he was involved in kickbacks from construction companies in exchange for public contracts.
In a report provided to Judge Leopoldo Puente, police said they had a recording of Santos Cerdan, a lawmaker and the Socialist Party's organisational secretary, discussing kickbacks with former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos, according to the left-leaning radio station Cadena Ser.
The judge, who unsealed the case on Thursday, called for Cerdan to testify on June 25 after finding "there is strong evidence of the possible involvement" of Cerdan in the "improper awarding of the aforementioned public works in exchange for a price," according to a court statement. Such acts constitute crimes of criminal organisation and bribery, the statement said.
Sanchez's fragile coalition has been hit by a series of allegations over the past year that have threatened to destabilise the government, including a high-profile probe into whether his wife Begona Gomez used her status to influence her business dealings.
Cerdan on Thursday said he had no recollection of the conversation.
"I have not been involved in any such conversation and this afternoon or tomorrow, when we know the contents of the report, I will call a press conference to which you are all invited," he said in comments to the press in parliament.
The Socialist Party on Wednesday said Cerdan was innocent and would provide explanations once the police report was made public.
"Santos Cerdan neither participated in nor influenced the awarding of public works contracts. He has never received a commission for doing so," it said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.
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