Former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos Denies Allegations in Koldo Case
Former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos voluntarily appeared before the Supreme Court on Thursday to refute allegations regarding his involvement in the Koldo case, which involves irregularities in awarding contracts for medical supplies during the pandemic. His appearance lasted over three hours, during which he denied receiving any commissions linked to these contracts and directed blame toward his former advisor, Koldo García.
Upon concluding his testimony, Ábalos stated his commitment to provide documentation that he claims will support his defense. He emphasized that he had already gathered sufficient evidence to clarify his position before the judicial authority and promised to deliver the documents formally to the court. "I believe I have given sufficient clarifications. I committed right there of my own accord to deliver the documentation that we already had, but we will deliver it officially which certifies everything I said," he remarked to reporters after leaving the Supreme Court.
Throughout his testimony, Ábalos refrained from implicating any government officials or declaring that the investigations were politically motivated, a claim he had previously made. He expressed gratitude to the judge for allowing him the opportunity to testify, noting his efforts to do so for many months, even seeking to appear before the National Court both as a victim and as a witness in the matter.
Regarding the specifics of his statement, he assured that he had covered all known aspects of the case, without going into further detail. When questioned about the existence of commissions, Ábalos firmly stated, "No, there were no commissions, as I have said many times."
The Koldo case has drawn significant attention as it probes deep into the allegations of corruption amidst the vast expenditures and contracts awarded during the health crisis caused by the pandemic. As investigations continue, Ábalos's testimony is expected to play a crucial role in elucidating the circumstances surrounding these contracts.
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