Spain´s Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to investigate the country´s “human rights judge” Baltasar Garzon for alleged professional misconduct, including accepting bribes, the court said. Two lawyers had reported Garzon for receiving 302,000 dollars (260,000 euros) from Spain´s biggest bank Santander in sponsorship of courses he organized at a New York University in 2005 and 2006.
The lawyers associated the sponsorship funds with Garzon´s later decision not to investigate a legal complaint against Santander chairman Emilio Botin and other managers.
Garzon soared to worldwide fame with his failed attempt to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet from London in 1998.
His investigations into alleged human rights abuses are seen by human rights activists as having reduced impunity around the world.
Two other judicial probes are also underway into alleged misconduct by the judge.
Copyright DPA
via Spain’s top judge comes under probe for alleged misconduct :.
