Spanish Prosecutor Seeks Formal Probe of BBVA in Spying Case

  • Judge asked to investigate allegations of bribery, corruption
  • Chairman Torres says bank’s own investigation is ‘progressing’
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Spanish prosecutors asked a judge to place Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA under formal investigation over allegations it contracted a detective agency to spy on business rivals, politicians and journalists.

The special prosecutor for corruption and organized crime on Wednesday presented a report to a Spanish judge calling for an investigation into allegations of bribery, discovery and disclosure of secrets and corruption in business. The move escalates a scandal that thus far been mainly limited to the media.