The Government of Aragón has asked the judge responsible in Jaca Remand without bail for the sole suspect in the fire at Santa María de la Peña . The move follows immediately after the regional government formally joined the proceedings as an injured party. Alternatively, the administration proposes allowing him to avoid detention only if he posts bail of €100,000.
To justify its request, the Dirección General de Servicios Jurídicos cites an increased risk of flight. It says the key factor is that the suspect has moved his residence to the Autonomous Community of Valencia . In the regional government’s view, this shows the limits of the conditions currently in force and warrants stricter measures to prevent him from evading the proceedings.
The case is being heard in Jaca. At an early stage, the man was remanded in custody. The Audiencia Provincial de Huesca later overturned that measure and released him subject to conditions. The chamber’s reasoning was that the evidence available at the time was insufficient to justify continuing his detention. With its new application, the Aragón government is seeking to have the court take account of the suspect’s recent change in circumstances. The court in Jaca will now decide on the request.
Investigations are continuing in parallel. According to consistent reports, the judge has ordered forensic analysis of two seized mobile phones. Video footage is also being examined which is said to show the suspect near the time and place where the fire allegedly began in Las Peñas de Riglos . However, the sequences known about so far do not establish that he started the fire himself. These are lines of inquiry; no reliable legal findings have yet been made.
The fire near Las Peñas de Riglos is considered one of the most serious in Aragón in recent years. Authorities report extensive damage, the evacuation of several villages and concerns about cultural heritage sites such as the monastery of San Juan de la Peña. The case is politically charged: government and opposition representatives differ in their assessments of responsibility and possible failings. These claims should not be equated with judicial findings.
The application for remand without bail once again worsens the suspect’s procedural position. Whether the court grants it is likely to depend, among other things, on how it weighs the risk of flight, the effectiveness of less restrictive measures and the results of the ongoing analyses.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).