MADRID, Spain — Judge Santiago Pedraz has formally investigated Juan Manuel Serrano, the former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and ex-president of the state postal service Correos, ordering the forensic extraction of data from his mobile phone. The judicial decision follows a formal request from the Anti-Corruption Prosecution and is based on a newly submitted report by the Guardia Civil’s Central Operational Unit (UCO).
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In the extensive document, the UCO attributes criminal responsibility to Serrano for his alleged role in the irregular hiring of Leire Díez at Correos and points to his potential involvement in a series of fraudulent public contracts. In his ruling, Judge Pedraz noted that Díez’s hiring process was highly irregular and that the identified contracts were executed in blatant disregard for public procurement regulations. The magistrate concluded that the evidence suggests these actions were carried out with the direct acquiescence of Serrano, thereby justifying the authorization to dump the contents of his already seized mobile device.
This development marks a significant escalation in a sprawling investigation. On May 27, Judge Pedraz had already formally investigated Santos Cerdán, PSOE manager Ana María Fuentes, and other key figures, noting at the time that there were early indications of Serrano’s involvement. However, the judge had initially opted to wait for further investigative progress before defining his specific criminal liability. The broader case encompasses two distinct but related timelines: alleged contract rigging within state-owned SEPI companies starting in late 2020, and a separate 2024 plot allegedly designed to destabilize judicial proceedings with the logistical and financial backing of the ruling socialist party.
The latest UCO report heavily scrutinizes the relationship between Díez, Serrano, and former SEPI president Vicente Fernández between 2021 and April 2024. According to the Guardia Civil, Díez’s placement at Correos was a strategic move not just for her own benefit, but for the alleged criminal trio dubbed ‘Hirurok’, which includes herself, Fernández, and Antxon Alonso. Intercepted messages indicate that Fernández told Díez her hiring was “good for you and good for us,” highlighting the political utility of the appointment. Díez allegedly coordinated with Correos executives to tailor a specific vacancy for herself, ultimately securing the position of Director Manager of Philately and Institutional Relations, a role that was conveniently restructured to report directly to Serrano.
‼️🇪🇸 | @Santi_Abascal tras la imputación del exjefe de gabinete de Sánchez Juan Manuel Serrano: "Todos los amigotes del 'number one'. TODOS". pic.twitter.com/y84WXdYfhZ
— EDATV (@edatvoficial) July 10, 2026
Investigators have also linked Serrano and Díez to allegedly fraudulent contracts awarded to the law firm SDEP & Carrillo Abogados SLP. The firm reportedly secured an initial €16,918 contract in March 2022 after Díez expressed a desire to make them the “reference firm” for advising the president of Correos. This was followed by a much larger €181,348 contract for technical support to Díez’s department. The UCO notes that Fernández pushed for the rapid formalization of this second contract to ensure it could be renewed while Serrano was still at the helm of the postal service, concluding that Serrano’s intervention was deemed essential to guarantee the extension of the lucrative legal services agreement.
Beyond the financial irregularities, the police report explores Serrano’s alleged connection to the 2024 operation to “destabilize” judicial cases, a strategy reportedly initiated by Cerdán following the indictment of the Prime Minister’s wife, Begoña Gómez. The Guardia Civil has recovered messages between Díez and Serrano discussing the drafting of a public letter posted by Pedro Sánchez on April 24, 2024, in response to his wife’s legal troubles, further intertwining the former Chief of Staff in the alleged political maneuvering.
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As the judicial process advances, the extraction of the mobile data is expected to provide investigators with crucial digital evidence to either corroborate or refute the alleged coordination between the key figures.
