Koldo Garcia will testify today in the Supreme Court after Ábalos' silence and after being singled out by the UCO as an "opaque fund manager"
One day after former Minister José Luis Ábalos decided not to testify, his former adviser Koldo García will appear before Supreme Court Judge Leopoldo Puente, who has been placed by the UCO as responsible for managing cash.
Koldo Garcia, in a stock image. Photo: EFE
Koldo Garcia, a former adviser to José Luis Ábalos at the Ministry of Transport, appeared before the Supreme Court at 10 a.m. after a recent report by the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard (UCO) stated that he was the manager and guardian of the former minister's "opaque" funds.
The appointment will take place one day after Ábalos decided to remain silent during his appearance before the judge. He finally ruled out sending Ábalos to provisional prison. The investigator ofthe Koldo case, Leopoldo Puente , decided to reconvene the former adviser after receiving a report that concludes that the UCO acted "as guardian and manager of the money for Ábalos", paying part of the former socialist leader's personal expenses for a possible institutional return.
According to the document, the money would come from alleged bites in exchange for public awards. The Civil Guard has stated that there is an unjustified cash reserve for Ábalos in regular income, whereby Koldo would pay the maintenance, salary or personal gifts of one of the former minister's children.
The report further details that Ábalos and García received cash payments from the PSOE, some documented and others not, and that in their WhatsApp conversations the former adviser and his wife, Patricia Uriz, spoke of money using names such as "jokes" (500 euro notes), "suns" (200 euros) or "lettuces" (100 euros) .
After the interrogation, the judge will hold a hearing to review the precautionary measures imposed on Koldo since February (prohibition of leaving the country, withdrawal of passports and fortnightly appearances), but his entourage has assured him thathe is prepared to go to prison if the Supreme so decides.
Meanwhile, the defence of the former counsel has asked the court to annul part of the case on the grounds that the judge is investigating facts not covered by the petition issued by Congress to challenge Ábalos.
The Koldo case arose in the National High Court on the basis of the award of contracts to Management Solutions for the purchase of masks during the pandemic. However, the investigation was extended almost a year ago to the Supreme Court, where irregularities in public works contracts were revealed, which led Judge Puente to divide the case into two separate pieces.
Garcia's fourth appearance at the Supreme Court could be decisive for the future of his former adviser and former minister Ábalos, whom the judge has accused of "very close" relations with his former collaborator's estate.
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