Judge Biedma renews request to question woman over alleged attack plot

Judge Beatriz Biedma has renewed her request for Spain’s National Court to investigate whether there was a plan to attack her, as part of an alleged scheme linked to former PSOE member Leire Díez. In a written submission, Biedma asks investigating judge Santiago Pedraz to question Cintia Rocho, known as “La Celsa,” who told the Civil Guard that former judge Luis Sáenz de Tejada had spoken of “eliminating” Biedma.

Pedraz rejected an earlier request to question Rocho three weeks ago, saying that Sáenz de Tejada had already been summoned as a suspect. Sáenz de Tejada, who is alleged to have been recruited by Díez to try to remove Biedma from the case involving David Sánchez, denied in court that he had contacted Rocho to propose an attack. Biedma said she had felt afraid but that this had not affected her decisions in the case.

The submission points to a note in one of Díez’s diaries reading: “Judge Badajoz. La Celsa. Heroin or gypsy.” Biedma’s lawyer argues that investigators should not rule out the possibility of an attack, saying other diary entries have been reflected in events including complaints against Biedma to the State Attorney General’s Office and attempts to have her removed from the case.

The request also cites a report sent by the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit on October 6. Rocho told investigators that Sáenz de Tejada called her, described Biedma in insulting terms, and said he had said she “had to be eliminated” and that “a donkey learns through beatings.” Rocho interpreted the remarks as suggesting an intention to cause the judge physical harm.

Biedma’s legal team is also asking Pedraz to request a police report from the National Police station in Badajoz identifying the person behind the fictitious Facebook profile “José García Fernández.” According to the submission, the anonymous account contacted Rocho and proposed “cleaning up the courts.” Biedma says the profile is directly linked to Sáenz de Tejada, and that the two have appeared together in recordings published on his YouTube channel.

Sources: elDiario.es.