Only 2 Minutes In Court, Spanish PM Refuses To Witness In Investigation Of Wife Corruption Case

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez/PHOTO via Instagram @sachezcastejon

JAKARTA - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez refused to testify as a witness in a judicial investigation into alleged corruption.

Proses persidangan ini merupakan bagian dari penyelidikan awal mengenai apakah Begona Gomez menggunakan posisinya sebagai istri prime minister untuk mendapatkan sponsor bagi program gelar master di universitas yang ia jalankan.

Reported by Reuters on Tuesday, July 30, Sanchez has repeatedly denied accusations against him, saying the allegations are baseless and regulated by far-right political enemies.

The state prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit in his name against the judge of the investigation into alleged irregularities.

"This lawsuit is intended to respect the independence of the judiciary, but also to defend it from the practices of politically motivated and outside the law," said government spokesman Pilar Alegria.

Gomez herself has not publicly commented on the case.

His lawyer, also Minister of Home Affairs Antonio Camacho, said Sanchez's presence was only two minutes in court.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado asked him two questions about whether he had anything to do with the people being investigated and whether he wanted to testify.

Sanchez answered Gomez was his wife and he did not want to testify.

Under Spanish law, close relatives including a partner can refuse to answer questions when summoned by the judge.