Spain's corruption probe to include Sánchez's former chief of staff

Spain's High Court has placed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's former chief of staff, Juan Manuel Serrano, under investigation as part of a widening corruption probe, ordering police to seize and analyse his mobile phone data.

Judge Santiago Pedraz is investigating an alleged scheme to interfere with judicial and police investigations involving the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE). The inquiry focuses on messages exchanged between Serrano and Leire Díez, a former postal service executive who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Serrano, who served as one of Sánchez's closest aides before leading Spain's state-owned postal service from 2018 to 2023, did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

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The investigation also includes former state holding company SEPI chief Vicente Fernández over Díez's appointment to the postal service. Fernández has denied any wrongdoing.

The latest development adds to a series of corruption cases involving members of Sánchez's party and inner circle in recent years, although the prime minister has not been accused of wrongdoing.

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