Politics · Spain · 5 hrs ago
Jury finds Guardia Civil general and contractor guilty of bribery
A Madrid jury found Guardia Civil general Pedro Vázquez Jarava and contractor Ángel Ramón Tejera de León guilty of bribery in the Cuarteles case.
The jury said Vázquez Jarava used his senior role in Spain’s Guardia Civil to steer building contracts to Tejera de León’s companies.
The case examined contracts awarded from 2008 to 2019, while another account of the verdict focuses on work arranged in 2016.
The jury found that the contractor gave the general gifts and cash in return, including more than €39,000 in cash, hotel stays and trips.
One account puts the value of the contracts at €3.3 million across 120 awards; another says the companies received close to €1.4 million in 2016.
The case matters because the work was meant to improve Guardia Civil buildings, and the jury found that some work was poorly done while the general received personal benefits.
Prosecutors and other parties have asked for one year in prison for each man, while their lawyers sought lower penalties and said they would appeal.
The judge must now write the sentence, and the jury opposed suspending the penalties or granting a pardon.
A nine-member jury unanimously found Guardia Civil lieutenant general Pedro Vázquez Jarava and contractor Ángel Ramón Tejera de León guilty of bribery.
The Madrid Provincial Court case examined whether Vázquez Jarava helped Tejera de León obtain public works contracts in exchange for gifts and money.
The jury found that the general received gifts and more than €39,000 in cash from the contractor.
Prosecutors and other parties called for a one-year prison sentence for each man, while the defenses sought a reduced sentence and said they would appeal.
The judge must now write the sentence.
- Who
- Guardia Civil lieutenant general Pedro Vázquez Jarava and contractor Ángel Ramón Tejera de León.
- What
- A jury found both men guilty of bribery, unanimously.
- When
- The verdict was announced on 21 October 2026.
- Where
- The trial was held at the Madrid Provincial Court in Spain.
- Why
- The jury found that Vázquez Jarava favored Tejera de León in public works contracts in exchange for gifts and money.
Prosecution and other accusing parties
Defenses
Sentence
Prosecution and other accusing parties
The prosecution, State Attorney and popular accusations sought one year in prison for each man.
Defenses
The defenses sought a reduced sentence, citing delays in the case, and said they would appeal.
Suspension or pardon
Prosecution and other accusing parties
The jury opposed suspending the sentences or granting a pardon.
Defenses
Not stated.
The case examined 120 minor contracts awarded in 13 Guardia Civil commands, worth a combined €3.3 million.
The jury found that Vázquez Jarava offered funds to commands for works and recommended Tejera de León as a contractor.
The case began, according to the defenses, which cited the time taken as grounds for a reduced sentence.
The jury unanimously found Vázquez Jarava and Tejera de León guilty of bribery.
- Defendants
- Pedro Vázquez Jarava and Ángel Ramón Tejera de León
- Jury
- Nine members; unanimous verdict
- Contracts examined
- 120 minor contracts in 13 commands
- Combined contract value
- €3.3 million
- Cash received
- More than €39,000
- Requested prison term
- One year for each defendant
3 sources
Declarado culpable por cohecho al teniente general de la Guardia Civil del caso cuarteles
El jurado declara culpable por unanimidad al primer teniente general de la Guardia Civil juzgado por corrupción
AUGC valora el veredicto de culpabilidad contra el teniente general Vázquez Jarava en el caso Cuarteles, en el que ha ejercido la acusación popular
What people are saying
the public interest, the credibility and the functioning of the administration have been called into question
obtain unjust enrichment
nobody in the Guardia Civil is above the law, including those at the very top of the hierarchy