Spain's Operation Kitchen trial reaches sentencing phase

Operation Kitchen José Manuel Villarejo Luis Bárcenas Jorge Fernández Díaz sentencing

The Audiencia Nacional in Madrid is concluding the high‑profile corruption case known as Operation Kitchen. After more than three months of oral hearings, the defenses of former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo, ex‑minister Jorge Fernández Díaz, ex‑secretary of State Francisco Martínez, former police operative Eugenio Pino, former commissioner Andrés Gómez Gordo and driver Sergio Ríos have presented their final statements, and the eight accused may exercise their right to a last word before a verdict is delivered.

The prosecution is seeking the maximum penalties: 19 years of imprisonment for Villarejo and 15‑year terms for Fernández Díaz, Martínez, Pino and Gómez Gordo, as well as 12½ years for Ríos. Villarejo's defence argues that the operation was a legitimate intelligence activity, not a parapolicial one, and contends that the term “Operation Kitchen” was coined by former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas together with a group of journalists.

The trial, which began in April 2026, centers on alleged espionage carried out in 2013 to obtain documents related to the Gürtel scandal and to conceal Bárcenas’ hidden assets.

Entities: Antonio García Cabrera · Audiencia Nacional · Audiencia Nacional · Francisco Martínez · Jorge Fernández Díaz · José Manuel Villarejo · Luis Bárcenas · Operation Kitchen · Operation Kitchen

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] The defence argues the case should be described as an intelligence operation rather than a parapolicial one. (Defense counsel)
[● 2 SOURCES] The alleged espionage was orchestrated in 2013 by the Ministry of the Interior to obtain information on Luis Bárcenas. (Prosecution)
[● 3 SOURCES] Defense lawyer Antonio García Cabrera claims the term 'Operation Kitchen' was created by Luis Bárcenas through a group of journalists. (Defense counsel)
[● 2 SOURCES] The prosecution alleges Villarejo passed obtained information to Eugenio Pino and Francisco Martínez, who informed former interior minister Jorge Fernández Díaz. (Prosecution)
[● 3 SOURCES] The Audiencia Nacional in Madrid is hearing the final defence statements in the Operation Kitchen case. (All articles reporting the trial's final phase)
[● 3 SOURCES] Villarejo is accused of using his driver Sergio Ríos to obtain documents related to the Gürtel case. (existing)
[● 3 SOURCES] The prosecution is seeking a sentence of 19 years' imprisonment for José Manuel Villarejo. (Fiscalía Anticorrupción)
[● 2 SOURCES] The trial is being held at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid, Spain. (Court records)
[● 4 SOURCES] The trial is in its final phase, with defenses having presented final statements and the defendants’ right to a last word pending before sentencing. (new)
[● 2 SOURCES] The defence argues the case should be classified as an intelligence operation rather than a parapolicial one. (existing)
[● 4 SOURCES] The prosecution seeks 15‑year prison sentences for Jorge Fernández Díaz, Francisco Martínez, Eugenio Pino and Andrés Gómez Gordo. (new)
[● 2 SOURCES] The defence of ex‑driver Sergio Ríos asserts he never knew the operation was illicit. (new)