The National High Court has confirmed the dismissal of the Criminal case against Repsol, whose defence was assumed by ECIJA, in the “Villarejo case”.
ECIJA assumed the defence of the company Repsol in the proceedings before the Central Court of Instruction number 6 of the Spain´s National HIgh Court under the Preliminary Diligences 96/2017 (Separate Part nº21 of the Villarejo case). At the end of the Preliminary Investigation phase last July 2022, the Court agreed to dismiss and close the case against Repsol.
ECIJA based its defence on accrediting the adequate and effective Compliance model in place in the company, which prevented and controlled the commission of the crimes for which the company was initially under investigation.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the private prosecution appealed the decision of the Examining Magistrate. However, the Criminal Division of the National High Court has issued an Order, dated 30 January 2023, dismissing the appeals filed by the prosecution and agreeing to the definitive dismissal of the case against Repsol, highlighting the full effectiveness of the oil company’s Compliance model and, consequently, confirming the thesis maintained by ECIJA throughout the proceedings.
The court confirms the decision of the judge of the High Court Manuel García Castellón, who last June provisionally shelved the investigation, and rejects the appeal of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, upholding the investigating judge’s decision to exonerate Repsol and Caixabank and their presidents in the investigation.
The magistrates understand that the heads of the companies had no contact with Cenyt, a company linked to the ex-commissioner, nor were they aware that he was still an active commissioner at the time of the contracting.
Pablo Jiménez de Parga, partner and executive vice-president of ECIJA was responsible for the criminal defence of the oil company Repsol.
