Koldo García Invokes Right to Silence Amidst Ongoing Corruption Investigation

Koldo García, a former advisor to ex-Minister José Luis Ábalos, exercised his right not to testify before Judge Ismael Moreno of the National Court this Friday. García's summons came just a day after his admission to pretrial detention without bail as part of the investigations surrounding the Koldo case, which is currently under scrutiny by the Supreme Court. Arriving at the National Court's holding cells at 8:45 AM, García was escorted by the Civil Guard from Soto del Real prison, where he spent his first night in custody. Legal sources cited by EFE reported that García declined to provide any testimony, stating that he felt he had no information to contribute following the latest report from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard. This report relates to contracts for the purchase of masks, antigen tests, and PCR tests in the Canary Islands during the pandemic. García's lawyer mentioned that he intends to speak only after receiving copies of his phones and other seized devices, which remain in the custody of the Central Investigating Court number two. She also assured that García is calm despite the serious legal challenges he faces. His decision to remain silent came as Judge Leopoldo Puente had previously determined that there was an extreme flight risk associated with both García and the ex-minister, leading to their imprisonment. The previous report that prompted this latest round of questioning indicated that the intermediary, Víctor de Aldama, who is under investigation for his role as a corrupt nexus in this scheme, allegedly paid García €10,000 per month. In return, García was purportedly able to influence various administrations, including that of the Canary Islands—a point that de Aldama corroborated during his testimony to the case instructor. As the investigation intensifies, all eyes remain on the legal proceedings surrounding García and the broader implications of corruption within the pandemic-related procurement processes. El Huffpost will continue to provide updates on this evolving story, ensuring that readers stay informed on the latest developments. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2