A FORMER Spanish transport minister and key ally of embattled prime minister Pedro Sanchez has been sentenced to more than 24 years in prison over his role in a Covid-19 face mask corruption scandal.
Jose Luis Abalos, 66, was found guilty by Spain’s Supreme Court on Monday of criminal organisation, bribery, embezzlement and influence peddling as part of what has become known as the Koldo case.
The scheme centred on the dodgy awarding of government contracts for more than 13 million face masks at the height of the pandemic, with Abalos accused of taking lucrative kickbacks on deals he agreed.
Prosecutors argued that Abalos, his long-standing adviser Koldo Garcia and millionaire businessman Victor de Aldama operated as a coordinated criminal network, with Aldama channeling millions of euros in commissions and other benefits to the former minister in return for his influence over government decisions.
Among the irregularities identified by prosecutors were monthly payments of €10,000 to Abalos described as ‘fixed expenses’, the hiring of two women linked to him in public companies and the covering of rent for an apartment used by one of them, who worked as a prostitute.
The court also identified property arrangements allegedly connected to the bailout of airline Air Europa in 2020 and the granting of a hydrocarbons licence.
In a unanimous ruling, judges handed Abalos a sentence of 24 years and three months – although under Spanish law, the time he will actually serve behind bars is capped at 16 and a half years.
Garcia received 19 years and eight months while Aldama got off with a four-and-a-half year suspended jail term thanks to his cooperation with investigators.
“A society that perceives that those in positions of power act guided by private interests, or interests unrelated to public service…experiences a loss of institutional legitimacy, which compromises the stability of the system itself,” a damning verdict issued by the court read.
The sentence is likely to intensify the pressure on Pedro Sanchez, with several corruption cases ongoing relating to figures at the heart of his administration – including his family.
On Saturday, his wife Begoña Gomez was banned from leaving the country and ordered to surrender her passport ahead of her controversial corruption trial.
Earlier this year, the 55-year-old was charged with influence peddling, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds after a private prosecution was launched by Manos Limpias (‘Clean Hands’), a trade union with far-right links.
Gomez, who denies any wrongdoing, is accused of using her proximity to the prime minister’s office to further her professional career at Madrid’s Compultense University and benefit business contacts.
Sanchez’s brother, David, is awaiting a court verdict after last month becoming the first relative of a sitting Spanish premier in the country’s democratic history to stand trial in a corruption case.
He faces accusations of influence peddling relating to his appointment to a publicly funded cultural role in Extremadura.
A probe is also underway into former socialist prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was placed under investigation last month for alleged influence peddling.
Sanchez has vowed to stand firm and stay in post until next year’s general election, but much is likely to depend on what happens in courtrooms up and down Spain over the coming months.
