Antonio Tejado, nephew of María del Monte, remains in provisional prison while the investigation of the so-called 'Operation Abgena' continues, in which the Sevillian is considered the alleged intellectual author of the assault and robbery with violence committed in several homes in the province of Seville , among which is that of her famous aunt.
After more than two months since his entry into prison, the Sevillian could now see the possibility of getting out of jail. Tejado has already testified before the judge and, although he tried before that happened, his efforts were frustrated by the decision of the Prosecutor's Office, the private prosecution and the judge assigned to the case. However, the Sevillian's legal team could opt for another tool to try to achieve that long-awaited release from prison.
This is a legal tool that both Antonio Tejado and the other five investigated have resorted to, called "reform appeal" and that could give an unexpected turn to the case. This tool, regulated in the Criminal Procedure Law, is filed against the orders of the same judge that you wish to appeal.
This would be the second time that Tejado's defense lawyer, Fernando Fernández Velo, requests the release of his client. Last March, the lawyer already requested the freedom of Antonio Tejado in a letter in which he charged against the Cuargia Civil, which he accused of having involved Tejado in the assault on María del Monte's chalet without evidence and based on "mere conjectures" due to his relationship with the Russian boxer Arseny Garibyan, leader of the band and friend of Tejado.
As explained by the Diario de Sevilla, Tejado's defense reiterates the reasons why the man from Seville cannot continue to be deprived of liberty, since there would not be sufficient reasons for his stay in prison to be prolonged. What's more, they are not opposed to Tejado being sentenced to another type of measure, although less restrictive, such as a restraining order for the victims.
This appeal for reform has been presented before the Investigative Judge number 16 of Seville, Juan Gutiérrez Casillas, who decided on April 5 that both Antonio Tejado and the other five investigated in Operation Abgena should remain in provisional prison before the "clear indications" of his participation in a "criminal organization.
Pending the oral trial, the legal teams will try to obtain this freedom for the accused. However, there are difficulties for this new request to be admitted, since the evidence that has been presented - the dumping of mobile phones will be crucial - and the indications of involvement are firm against the accused. In addition, there is a bail of 100,000 euros for Antonio Tejado, in case the judge agrees to grant him the long-awaited freedom.
