The deputy record shields Ábalos from Aldama’s accusations for now

The material provided by the employer Victor de Aldama in the Supreme Court gives rise to new lines of research in the so-called Koldo caseamong them the alleged corruption that would have emanated from the Ministry of Transport through public works concessions when the former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE was in charge of this portfolio. Furthermore, the Aldama papers They also open another new judicial front to Ábalos for the acquisition of a luxury apartment for the former Minister of Pedro Sanchez on Paseo de la Castellana, in Madrid, where the purchase operation of the La Alcaldeisa chalet, on Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz), enjoyed by the former minister, is repeated.

However, the advantage that Ábalos currently has is his record as a deputy. Investigation sources consulted by EL MUNDO consider that there are “solid indications” of the commission of several corruption crimes by the former strongman of the PSOE and the Executive. Not in vain, the Supreme Court decided to open a case against the deputy for serious crimes such as membership in a criminal organization, influence peddling, bribery and embezzlement of public funds.

However, these sources consider that in order to advance the investigation, in order to prove the commission of the aforementioned crimes, it is essential to carry out a property investigation on the accused. However, to carry out this key diligence it is necessary for the Congress of Deputies to first grant the request to the High Court.

For now, the instructor of the case, Leopoldo Puentelast week offered José Luis Ábalos to testify voluntarily in accordance with the provisions of article 118 bis of the Criminal Procedure Law, in order to favor his right of defense. The former minister initially agreed to this claim, although he later requested the postponement of his appearance, which was scheduled for next Thursday in the Supreme Court. Ábalos has argued that “for the study and preparation” of the interrogation, given the “extension of the case”, he considers it convenient to report it at later dates.

At the moment, the former socialist leader has not had the opportunity to defend himself in court. However, despite the enormous media expectation that his first appearance may arouse, investigators are skeptical about the light that the former minister may shed to clarify the facts.

As this newspaper has reported, Ábalos has shown his intention to “dismantle” what the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard (UCO), the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and Aldama himself say. In this sense, sources in the case emphasize that the investigation of this macro-cause “is still beginning” and that “multiple elements” are missing to determine its scope. For now, judges and prosecutors agree on the determining role played in the corrupt network by the former minister with the most power in the PSOE within the Sánchez Government.

Furthermore, the Prosecutor’s Office grants credibility to Aldama’s confession and subsequent provision of evidence because, among other issues, the commission agent has shown that the corrupt plot operated in that the criminal businesses were not limited to the purchase of medical supplies during the pandemic.

Among the latest revelations from Víctor de Aldama – who must declare on the 16th – is “the operation by which he would acquire, without consideration, the property at Paseo de la Castellana number 164 in Madrid.” It was the “guarantee in favor of José Luis Ábalos of the fulfillment of the commitment by certain construction companies to pay commissions if they were awarded certain public contracts.” All of them, “pre-awarded, that is, decided before their bidding.”

“To this end, the contract – a type of guarantee trust – was concluded on April 24, 2019, a lease contract with an option to purchase, which expired on February 14, 2024.” According to Aldama, it is the same type of contract that they articulated with the chalet in La Línea de la Concepción.

On the other hand, Aldama’s defense delivered a document to the Supreme Court on the alleged rigging of public works awards. In it, the public contracts “already pre-awarded to companies previously selected to whom they should be awarded” by the Ministry of Transport are highlighted in pink. “These would be companies that would have acquired the commitment to pay commissions if they were awarded the contract,” explained the lawyer. José Antonio Choclán who assured that “the investigation will accredit the companies to which the works highlighted in pink were awarded.”