This Tuesday, the Government will grant a partial pardon to Jose Luis Penas, former advisor to the Popular Party in Majadahonda (Madrid) and who discovered the Gürtel plot, as reported by elDiario.es this Monday. The pardon will not affect the prison sentence, but it will commute the ban on access to public employment.
The Council of Ministers will approve this Tuesday the royal decree which pardons the former advisor for “reasons of justice and equity”, highlighting his role in the discovery of the corruption affair, according to the said media. In fact, the granting of forgiveness is part of the whole plan of regeneration.
Grace will not affect the punishment of prison of four years and nine months in prison andwhat is this was suspended by the National Courtbut this will allow him to maintain his position as a civil servant on the municipal council. José Luis Peñas had favorable reports from the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor’s Office. Indeed, the High Court ruled in November 2021 in favor of granting a partial pardon to the former councilor which would allow him to continue working as a civil servant at Madrid City Hall.
Peñas was convicted of crimes of illicit association and corruptiondocumentary falsification, fraud, embezzlement of public funds and prevarication, with the mitigating circumstance of confession, to four years and nine months in prison; five years and one month of absolute ban; seven years and six months of special ban on employment or public function, and a fine of 130,600 euros. However, he never went to prison since his sentence was suspended by the National Court.
Concretely, the Supreme Court approved that the two sentences of absolute disqualification imposed on him be commuted to other sentences of special disqualification for freely appointed or elected public positions, which would allow him to continue working as a civil servant. at Madrid City Hall. and guarantee the economic support of his family.
He affirmed that, thanks to their collaboration, it was possible to uncover the largest political and economic corruption plot known in Spain in recent years.s by filing a complaint and speaking with the leader of the plot, Francisco Correa. The Chamber followed the criteria of the prosecutor, who supports the partial pardon for reasons of justice, equity and public utility, as required by the law of pardon, and for the repentance of the condemned.
