Former Minister and ex-secretary of Organization of the PSOE, José Luis Ábalos, has denied any involvement in the Koldo case during a court hearing at the Supreme Court. He rejected all allegations against him, asserting that he does not recognise himself in audio recordings made by his former advisor Koldo García, which include claims of kickbacks in exchange for irregular tenders. Ábalos questioned the authenticity of these recordings, suggesting they may have been manipulated.

The judge, Leopoldo Puente, decided not to impose provisional prison on Ábalos or Koldo García, who arrived later and opted to exercise his right to silence. Ábalos, who gave his testimony after initially appearing confused and feeling unwell, claimed he was unaware of any irregularities regarding the tenders, suggesting that García and another associate, Santos Cerdán, had no influence over decisions as they lacked the requisite authority.

The case relates to suspected kickbacks in public works associated with the Ministry of Transport during Ábalos’s tenure as minister. Following previous appearances in December and February, the investigation evolved from initial claims concerning the irregular purchase of health materials during the pandemic to focus on supposed bribery linked to public project tenders.

As part of the ongoing investigation, further hearings are scheduled, with other individuals linked to the case, including companies allegedly involved in the irregularities, expected to testify. The prosecution is calling for measures to prevent the accused from leaving the country while the inquiry continues, providing the legal framework for the case’s further developments.