Koldo García Faces the Supreme Court Amid Corruption Allegations Tied to Pandemic Contracts
Koldo García, a long-time adviser to former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos, is set to appear before the Supreme Court this Tuesday amidst new allegations made by businessman Víctor De Aldama. De Aldama has reiterated his claims—without providing evidence—that he paid commissions to both García and Ábalos, suggesting that part of these funds was intended for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
This session follows conflicting statements provided by Ábalos and De Aldama, which caught the attention of Judge Leopoldo Puente. The judge will be interrogating García regarding accusations related to the alleged collection of commissions for public contracts concerning masks during the pandemic. The investigation has also expanded to include public works contracts within the Ministry of Transport, currently led by Óscar Puente.
Significantly, this will be the first opportunity for Koldo García to testify before a judge. Sources close to the former advisor suggest that he may choose to speak before all parties involved, similar to the approach taken by De Aldama during his own announcement.
Previously, García had remained silent when summoned by the National Court during his arrest in February, which was part of the broader initial investigation that led to Ábalos's resignation from the PSOE. Should García decide to testify, he will need to clarify the accusations regarding commission collections, with De Aldama estimating these amounts to be between 35,000 and 4 million euros linked to companies awarded major public works contracts.
In the days leading up to this hearing, former minister Ábalos firmly denied the claims of having received any commissions, pushing back against De Aldama's allegations. Investigators are reportedly viewing Ábalos as a crucial figure in this unfolding case, which has elevated García’s profile as a possible intermediary linked to the awarding of mask contracts to Soluciones de Gestión in exchange for alleged commissions.
One aspect of the investigation that has raised eyebrows is the observed increase in García's assets—reported to be approximately 15 million euros around the time the contracts were signed, which investigators suspect may correlate with these alleged illicit payments. García, who is notable for his well-known meetings at the seafood restaurant La Chalana, is also believed to have orchestrated the selection of a villa in Cádiz that Ábalos used for several months—a detail that prosecutors consider a significant piece of evidence in identifying a quid pro quo climate surrounding these transactions.
As the court date approaches, the public and media scrutiny remains sharp on both Koldo García and José Luis Ábalos, who now find themselves at the center of a scandal casting light on potential corruption during a time of urgent public health crisis. The ramifications of this case could lead to further consequences for those involved and impact the reputation of the PSOE amidst ongoing political turmoil in Spain.
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