Overview

• José Manuel Villarejo received an eight-year prison sentence, and his associate Rafael Redondo was sentenced to six years for four counts of illicit discovery of secrets.
• The court acquitted former Repsol security chiefs Rafael Araujo and Rafael Girona, along with CaixaBank's Miguel Ángel Fernández Rancaño, of bribery, forgery, and secret-discovery charges.
• The ruling determined Villarejo acted in a private capacity without using public resources or police powers, negating bribery allegations.
• The court found payments to Villarejo’s firm CENYT were for private services, dismissing claims they constituted bribes or misuse of public authority.
• Prosecutors had sought significantly harsher sentences, including over 40 years for Villarejo, but the court imposed reduced penalties based on the evidence presented.