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Denver – Former Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya is due to appear before a judge to address her alleged involvement in facilitating Brahim Ghali’s illegal entry into Spanish territory earlier this year.
Last week, Laya’s former Chief of Staff, Camilo Villarino, indicated in his court testimony that the former Spanish FM was not only aware of Ghali’s identity before his arrival into Spain but also worked to conceal it. According to Villarino, Laya explicitly ordered him to ensure Ghali would be admitted without the involvement of customs or border officials.
Failure to bring Ghali to trial over his alleged human rights abuses, in addition to his usage of fake documents while in Spain, has drawn criticism from media, activists, and Spanish legal experts.
Zaragoza judge Rafael Lasala opened a criminal investigation into Ghali’s entrance after attorney Antonio Urdiales filed a formal complaint to Spanish authorities. Since then, many more senior Spanish officials have been summoned as witnesses to shed more light on what some observers have fittingly dubbed “Ghaligate.”.
Judge Lasala announced the former first vice-president and current director-general of the national mint, Carmen Calvo, was also being summoned by the court to detail her involvement in the Polisario leader’s controversial trip to and hospitalization in Spain.
After a Spanish judge refused to prosecute Ghali on his alleged human rights abuses, the criminal charges against the Polisario chief now remain centered on his usage of illegal documentation to enter Spain.
The charge of “forgery or use of forgery and concealment of evidence” could also be a basis for prosecuting the Spanish officials involved in facilitating his entrance into the country, if it’s proven they were aware of his counterfeit documents.
With mounting evidence suggesting Laya’s extensive knowledge of the situation, it appears likely the Spanish prosecution may choose to prosecute the former Foreign Minister, although the full extent of potential punishment remains to be seen.
