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The National Court begins to judge the Lezo case, on the Canal of Elizabeth II, ten years later
Spain🏛️ PoliticsLean Progressive9/7/2026

The National Court begins to judge the Lezo case, on the Canal of Elizabeth II, ten years later

The National Court in Spain has begun the trial of the 'Lezo case,' which involves more than 20 defendants accused of overpaying by at least 19 million euros for the purchase of the Colombian company Inassa by the Canal de Isabel II in 2001. The investigation into this case began over a decade ago and led to the arrest of former Madrid president Ignacio González in 2017, though he was released after six months of preventive detention and is not currently on trial. Instead, he will face charges related to another branch of the investigation starting in October. The Public Prosecution Service's anti-corruption division has filed charges against 22 individuals, including two former regional government advisors under Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón. They are accused of approving the purchase of Inassa for $73 million with an unjustified overpayment ranging between €19.066.500 and €29.013.109, using public funds meant to be protected. The trial started on September 7 and is expected to last until October 8.

The Audiencia Nacional has begun its first trial in the so-called Lezo case, which involves the purchase of the Colombian company Inassa by the Canal de Isabel II in 2001 with a suspected overpayment of at least 19 million euros. This marks the start of judicial proceedings against more than two dozen accused individuals, including former officials and executives linked to the public water utility. The trial commenced on Monday, September 7, and is scheduled to last until October 8, though the schedule may change during the hearing. The investigation into the alleged corruption surrounding the acquisition began in 2017, leading to the detention of former Madrid Mayor Ignacio González in 2017. He spent six months in preventive custody before being released. Although still under investigation, González will face charges in another branch of the case starting in October. His legal team had previously requested the dismissal of charges against him, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations for the crime of misappropriation. However, the court has yet to rule on this request. Among the defendants are two former senior advisors to Madrid’s regional government under Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, Juan Bravo Rivera and Pedro Calvo, who were part of the board of directors of the Canal de Isabel II at the time of the transaction. The Public Prosecutor's Office has charged them along with other officials, including former head of the Madrid Audit Chamber Arturo Canalda and several former executives of the Canal. The indictment alleges that the 2001 purchase of a 75 percent stake in Inassa was conducted through a Panamanian company, with proceeds allegedly funneled to five of the accused who were co-owners of the firm. The total amount paid for the acquisition was 73 million dollars, with an estimated overpayment ranging between 19.066.500 and 29.013.109 euros, all sourced from public funds. The prosecution claims that the operation was carried out without justification and solely in the interest of the sellers. It further states that the funds were improperly used and that the beneficiaries were not justified in their actions. The indictment seeks penalties of between six and seven years of imprisonment for the accused, alongside periods of absolute disqualification. Legal representatives of the accused have argued that the charge of misappropriation of public funds has prescribed, noting that more than 15 years have passed since the alleged offenses. They have requested that the court resolve the issue of prescription without proceeding with the trial, arguing that continued legal proceedings would subject their clients to unnecessary public scrutiny. One defense lawyer emphasized the need to avoid what they describe as the "penalty of television," referring to the media attention accompanying such high-profile cases. The case originated from an investigation initiated by the National Court’s Central Instruction Unit 6, following a complaint from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. The initial probe focused on the expansion of the Canal de Isabel II into South America, particularly the acquisitions of Inassa and Emissao, both of which were alleged to involve misuse of public funds. The case has since branched into multiple parts, each addressing different aspects of the alleged misconduct. In addition to the current trial, three more hearings are planned for later this year. These include trials related to the acquisition of the Brazilian company Emissao and the management of the Móstoles-Navalcarnero railway contract. The Lezo case, named after Spanish naval commander Blas de Lezo, gained prominence when former Madrid President Ignacio González was arrested in April 2017. The nickname references the historical figure known for defending Cartagena de Indias during the British siege of 1741, symbolizing resistance against corruption.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

RTVE Noticias logoRTVE NoticiasState / PublicCenterFactual 94Objective 929/7/2026
Former counselors of Ruiz-Gallardón and other defendants of Lezo ask to annul the trial by prescription

The article reports on legal proceedings related to the purchase of Inassa by the Canal de Isabel II in 2001, which is alleged to have involved an overpayment of at least 19 million euros. The case, known as 'operación Lezo,' involves multiple defendants, including former officials from the Madrid regional government under Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and former executives of the Canal de Isabel II. Legal representatives of the accused argue that the charges against them are time-barred due to prescription. The former Madrid president Ignacio González was detained in 2017 but has not yet been tried, while other defendants face potential prison terms of up to seven years for corruption-related offenses. The prosecution claims the transaction was conducted through a Panamanian company and resulted in public funds being used improperly.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about ongoing legal proceedings involving former officials and does not overtly favor any particular political ideology. It provides balanced reporting on both the defense arguments regarding prescription and the prosecution's allegations of corruption. There

Why factuality (94): The article accurately reports the case involving the purchase of Inassa by Canal de Isabel II with a presumed overpayment of at least 19 million euros, the involvement of more than twenty defendants including former PP officials from Madrid under Ruiz-Gallardón, and the legal arguments raised by de

Why objectivity (92): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting facts without overt bias or emotional language. It provides background information and quotes legal proceedings without taking sides or injecting personal opinion.

Público logoPúblicoIndependentProgressiveFactual 93Objective 899/7/2026
The 'Lezo case' comes to trial ten years after the National Court began investigating the purchase of Inassa with a millionaire overprice

The 'Lezo case' has begun its trial at the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) after a decade-long investigation into the 2001 purchase of the Colombian company Inassa by Canal Isabel II, which involved a million-euro overpayment. The case involves allegations of bribery through the management of the public water utility and includes high-profile figures such as Ignacio González, who succeeded Esperanza Aguirre as Madrid's regional president. The trial, starting on October 13, 2026, is part of a larger corruption investigation that has been split into eight parts. The case originated from the expansion of Canal Isabel II in South America, including acquisitions of Inassa and Emissao with alleged misuse of public funds. The trial will involve 22 individuals, including former Madrid regional officials Pedro Calvo and Juan Bravo, accused of misappropriation of public funds and abuse of power. The prosecution seeks prison terms ranging from six to seven years for those involved.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the corruption case within the context of public officials and their alleged misuse of public funds, emphasizing the legal actions against high-profile political figures. While it presents factual information about the charges, the focus on systemic corruption and the involvement

Why factuality (93): This article accurately describes the timeline of the investigation, noting that it began ten years prior to the trial and includes details such as the 29 million euro overpayment figure, the role of Ignacio González, and future trials related to other aspects of the case. These points align with th

Why objectivity (89): While generally neutral, the article uses slightly more descriptive language when referring to Ignacio González as 'one of the main accused,' which may imply a degree of emphasis. However, this does not significantly affect overall neutrality.

elDiario.es logoelDiario.esIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 809/7/2026
The National Court begins to judge the Lezo case, on the Canal of Elizabeth II, ten years later

The National Court in Spain has begun the trial of the 'Lezo case,' which involves more than 20 defendants accused of overpaying by at least 19 million euros for the purchase of the Colombian company Inassa by the Canal de Isabel II in 2001. The investigation into this case began over a decade ago and led to the arrest of former Madrid president Ignacio González in 2017, though he was released after six months of preventive detention and is not currently on trial. Instead, he will face charges related to another branch of the investigation starting in October. The Public Prosecution Service's anti-corruption division has filed charges against 22 individuals, including two former regional government advisors under Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón. They are accused of approving the purchase of Inassa for $73 million with an unjustified overpayment ranging between €19.066.500 and €29.013.109, using public funds meant to be protected. The trial started on September 7 and is expected to last until October 8.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced account of the legal proceedings involving multiple individuals, including high-profile figures such as former Madrid president Ignacio González. It presents the accusations made by the Public Prosecution Service without overtly favoring any side, and does not include

Why factuality (85): The article provides detailed information about the ongoing trial of the 'Lezo case' involving the Canal de Isabel II and the purchase of Inassa from Colombia. It references specific dates, names, and charges, aligning with the cross-source consensus that this case has been under investigation for o

Why objectivity (80): The article presents the facts in a neutral manner, reporting the legal proceedings and accusations without apparent bias. It includes both the charges against various individuals and the archival of certain cases, showing a balanced approach. However, there is a slight tendency towards emphasizing

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