Rafael Araujo, ex-director of Security of Repsol, has taken this Tuesday’s position before the judge who instructs the “Villarejo case” all the responsibility for the contracting of services of Cenyt (the company of Jose Manuel Villarejo). After the Criminal Chamber of the National High Court in February ordered that the case against Antonio Brufau, president of Repsol and Isidro Famine, former president of Caixabank for his knowledge of the espionage of the most responsible, be reopened, the subject of the investigation was brought to his own attention. Sacyr, Luis del Rivero between 2011 and 2012.
According to legal sources, Araujo stated to Judge Manuel Garcia Castellon, that he made the decision to hire the retired commissioner. He also claimed that he did not inform Brufau of his decision. The interrogation lasted approximately an hour and a quarter. .
Araujo told the judge about his background as a police officer. He also said that he had never met Villarejo when he was active, neither at the academy nor at any of the many destinations they shared. He said that their first encounter occurred in 2007-2008, when they met at a dinner where Villarejo introduced himself to him as a chief inspector on leaves who owned a security company.
According to the same sources Araujo explained to the magistrate that they had not met again until 2011. According to the same sources, Araujo explained to the magistrate that they did not meet again until 2011.
Araujo allegedly sensed a concern in Villarejo’s conversation and asked him directly if Sacyr was his employer. This caused him to alter his appearance and change of profile. Repsol could hire Cenyt to end this alleged collaboration between Villarejo, Del Rivero.
Because the security department at the oil company could not handle the task of gathering information about the construction company, Araujo turned to Villarejo. Araujo sought the opinions of his colleagues from other Ibex-35 companies in similar departments about the commissioner’s business. According to the investigator, the task was to discover details about the deal Del Rivero attempted to make with Mexican oil company Pemex in order to take control of Repsol, which was owned by Caixabank.
This business intelligence project sought to uncover a number of details, including who funded the operation, who was behind it, and what legal and financial support Sacyr received. Araujo said that Repsol is not a company capable of performing this service. Repsol didn’t pursue any information about Del Rivero, or his family, according to the person appearing.
Cenyt prepared reports in 2011 on Luis del Rivero’s wife, Luis del Rivero (head of Security at Sacyr) and former financial director at Repsol, with confidential information and phone monitoring. These reserved data were probably provided by Enrique Garcia Castano, Commissioner of Villarejo. Cenyt was paid by Repsol and Caixabank for this assignment. The total value of the payments was 413,600 Euros. 218,900 correspond to oil company payments and 194,700 the bank.
