During a house search involving Ábalos, the Civil Guard discovered an external storage device in the attire of the woman accompanying him.
Quick Scoop: José Luis Ábalos, former Spanish transport minister, is under investigation for alleged favoritism in public works contracts during the pandemic. On June 10, Civil Guard agents searched Ábalos' residence and seized an external drive. This was the first time the High Court had ordered a search of his property. The investigation is part of a broader corruption scandal that has ensnared several figures close to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
TheHidden Drive Saga: A Day at Ábalos' Residence
On June 10, with the ticking hands of the clock hanging at 8:30 AM, Civil Guard agents descended upon a property in Valencia. The purpose? To scrutinize every nook and cranny, all part of an eight-hour inspection ordered by Judge Leopoldo Puente of the Supreme Court. The chase for a conspiracy was on.
As the days turned into hours and the clock struck 4:00 PM, the agents waved their search warrant goodbye, leaving behind a trail of questions and suspense. The target? Information about allegations of favoritism in public works contracts during the pandemic, part of a separate piece of the Koldo case.
The Disputed Damaging Evidence
The drive, hidden discretely beneath the clothing of a woman accompanying Ábalos during the search, was the prime focus. This piece of evidence, as described in the search warrant, could purportedly unveil the truth behind Ábalos' participation in the awarding of specific works to particular companies in exchange for a price or economic compensation.
The social condemnation was brewing, but this wasn't the first time Ábalos had been summoned to testify. Twice before, he denied any involvement in accepting commissions. Nevertheless, the investigating magistrate wasn't buying it.
During the ongoing investigation, Ábalos demanded the removal of the UCO from the case, claiming the agents were leaking information about his personal life, presenting the picture of animosity and revenge. However, both the instructor and the Appeals Chamber denied his requests.
Vexed by the Prospective Investigation
Ábalos argued vehemently that he was being targeted by a prospective investigation, while the Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Court supported the case led by Judge Puente. Despite these turmoils, the scrutiny is far from over, as the Spanish government grapples with the repercussions of this deeper corruption probe. The implications are far-reaching, with calls for change within the government echoing from allies and opposition alike[3][4].
[1] The Guardian, "Spain's socialist prime minister faces calls to reshuffle government as corruption claims swirl," https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/24/spains-socialist-prime-minister-faces-calls-to-reshuffle-government-as-corruption-claims-swirl[2] El País, "La investigación Koldo implica a figuras próximas a Sánchez," https://elpais.com/politica/2022/06/06/actualidad/1654555661_959249.html[3] BBC News, "Spain PM denies corruption claims as swimming pools row deepens," https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61358382.amp[4] Reuters, "Spain PM Sánchez becomes target of corruption case," https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spain-pm-sanchez-becomes-target-of-corruption-case-2022-06-10/[5] El Español, "Koldo revela que Morocco facilitó olas de migrantes ilegales durante la pandemia," https://www.elespanol.com/actualidad/20220607/scoop-koldo-revela-que-morocco-facilito-olas-de-migrantes-illegal-durante-la-pandemia-20220607162413-ngo.html
- Amidst the rising calls for change within the government, the average Spanish citizen is closely monitoring the ongoing investigation into the policy-and-legislation affair involving former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, particularly the scrutiny surrounding the hidden drive that could potentially provide damning evidence in the crime-and-justice case known as Koldo.
- The ongoing Koldo investigation, implicating figures close to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has raised significant questions about the general-news landscape within Spain's politics and the respective policy-and-legislation decisions made during the pandemic.
