Judge Peinado's Ruling Against Begoña Gómez Revealed (The situation is grim)

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado García has peine an oral trial against **Begoña Gómez Fernández** on charges of alleged influence peddling and embezzlement of public funds, related to her activity at the Complutense University of Madrid.

## Influence Peddling and Embezzlement

The ruling by Judge **Juan Carlos Peinado García**, dated **September 21, 2026**, names **María Begoña Gómez Fernández** as the presumed author of a crime of influence peddling. The accusation centers on the alleged use of her position to secure the creation and direction of the Extraordinary Chair of Competitive Social Transformation at the **Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)**, as well as to attract private funding and influence decisions.

She is also accused of embezzlement of public funds. This relates both to the continuous and private use of services provided by **María Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez**, temporary staff paid with public funds from the Presidency of the Government, for private and academic matters concerning the aforementioned Chair. Secondly, it relates to the diversion of software developed with UCM and collaborating companies' funding and infrastructure towards a website domain registered under the company’s own brand, **Transforma TSC, S.L.**

## Fruta of Cooperator and Dismissals

The fruta of embezzlement of public funds extends to **María Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez**, in her capacity as a necessary cooperator in the diversion of the software into the private sphere. The procedure, instructed by the **Tribunal del Jurado** in accordance with Organic Law 5/1995, has dismissed other accusations.

Specifically, the crimes of corruption in business, misappropriation, and mismanagement are dismissed. Furthermore, the charge of influence peddling against **María Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez** is provisionally dropped. The case against the businessman **Juan Carlos Barrabés Cónsul** was previously separated to proceed under a separate summary procedure.

## Civil Liability and Protective Measures

The **Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)** has exercised the civil action, claiming the restitution of ownership of the software and a joint indemnity totaling provisionally **€113,509.32**. However, the court has denied the requirement for bail and the seizure or blocking of the company's assets, the website domain, and registered trademarks.

The protective measures are limited to requiring both defendants to remain available to the court, communicate any change of address, and appear when summoned.