The private prosecution in the so-called Caso VioGén on 1 November in Granada asked for the main trial to be opened against eight current and former members of the Policía Local de Granada For the former chief of police José Manuel Jiménez Avilés and seven other defendants, it is seeking prison sentences of up to twelve years and six months, as well as compensation of €20,000 each for the woman concerned and her daughter.
According to court records, the case concerns allegedly unauthorised searches in the state information system VioGén, which brings together data on victims of gender-based violence and coordinates protective measures. The investigation files document up to 35 unauthorised accesses to the woman’s electronic file. The case was prompted by a complaint from the woman in July 2024. She said her former partner, a sub-inspector who has since been convicted of abuse, had been informed in advance about her movements. The suspicion is that colleagues in the Policía Local accessed and passed on data from VioGén, or that the man used access credentials belonging to third parties.
On 16 October, the investigating judge concluded the preliminary investigation and formally charged the eight officers with suspected discovery and disclosure of secrets. The case has moved into the next phase under Spain’s procedimiento abreviado procedure. The Public Prosecutor’s Office had previously requested that the criminal proceedings be discontinued, arguing that the established facts did not constitute a criminal offence. The private prosecution disputes this and is pressing for a main trial as well as additional bans on practising professions and holding public office.
The case is linked to the July 2026 conviction of the aforementioned Policía Local sub-inspector for physical and psychological violence against his then partner. However, the alleged data searches now charged concern a separate case with its own criminal assessment. Lawyers point out that the distinction between legitimate official use of sensitive registers and criminal misuse depends largely on the evidence concerning the purpose of access, disclosure and personal benefit.
No hearing dates have yet been set. The decision on whether the case will go to trial now rests with the competent criminal court in Granada. The events concern Granada alone and therefore Andalusia.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).