Superior Court Grants Prosecution Until June 30 to Respond to 18 BPA Appeals

The Superior Court's criminal chamber has granted the public prosecutor's office until 30 June to respond to the 18 appeals filed against the Court of Corts' ruling in the main BPA case trial.

The first-instance decision, which imposed heavy penalties on most of the defendants, has drawn challenges from the accused but not from the public prosecution or the government's private prosecution. Defences had roughly three months to submit their appeals, while the prosecution now has nearly seven months—more than double that period—to reply, citing the need to address 18 separate, often voluminous filings.

The appeals share common arguments, including claims of constitutional irregularities in the proceedings and a failure to prove the illicit origin of funds alleged in the exchange accusations at the heart of the case. Defendants highlight that related Gao Ping cases in Spain have mostly been archived or dismissed without convictions. They also criticise the prosecution for relying uncritically on mainly Spanish police reports, some untranslated from Chinese, without independent probative effort.

Each appeal additionally targets specifics against individual defendants.

The criminal chamber, currently comprising judges Yves Picod, Fàtima Ramírez, and Alexandra Cornella, has no date set for the oral hearing. Its composition is likely to change, as Picod has informed the Superior Council of Justice of his retirement on 30 June. Judicial sources suggest he wishes to avoid involvement in the BPA case. Following the precedent of former prosecutor Alfons Alberca's departure, Iván Alís may take over for the prosecution.