Madrid judicial probe targets 6.3 million euro penthouse purchase

A judicial investigation has been opened in Madrid following five complaints regarding the 6.3 million euro purchase of a 485-square-meter penthouse in the Chamberí district. The acquisition was executed in April 2026 by the public company Planifica Madrid, a firm overseen by Miguel Ángel García Martín, the counselor for the Presidency, Justice, and Local Administration.

The transaction drew scrutiny due to a lack of transparency, as the purchase was not detailed in the company’s transparency portal or annual reports and only became public knowledge in late July. While the regional government initially claimed the property would serve as a temporary office during renovations at the Real Casa de Correos, the building is zoned for residential use and lacks the necessary licenses for office operations.

Following the controversy, the regional executive announced the property would be put up for sale for 6.69 million euros, with proceeds intended for reconstruction efforts in the Sierra Oeste region. The complaints, filed by political parties and private citizens, allege potential crimes of embezzlement and malfeasance. Judge Rosario Espinosa Baraja is currently reviewing requests for documentation from Planifica Madrid and the regional government to clarify the justification and administrative process behind the purchase.