Ex-Spanish Minister Ábalos gets over 24 years in prison for corruption in mask deals

Former Spanish Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos has been sentenced to 24 years and three months in prison for his role in a corruption scheme involving lucrative COVID-19 mask procurement contracts. The High Court's ruling also handed down sentences to his former aide, Koldo García, who received 19 years and eight months, and businessman Víctor de Aldama, sentenced to four years and six months.

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All three defendants were involved in a criminal organization. Its purpose was to obtain financial benefits from the awarding of public procurement contracts.

The court determined that the three were part of a criminal organization aiming to profit from public tenders. Ábalos and García were convicted of belonging to a criminal group, bribery, embezzlement, and trading in influence. The scheme allegedly involved 13 million face masks supplied to state entities like "Puertos del Estado" and "Adif" during the pandemic's critical phase, with contracts awarded to a company linked to de Aldama.

Beyond the mask deals, the investigation also uncovered evidence of Ábalos leveraging his political and administrative influence for personal gain. This included monthly payments of 10,000 euros, covering housing expenses for a close associate, and facilitating the hiring of two women connected to him in state-owned companies under the Transport Ministry's supervision. The ruling also touched upon real estate transactions in several Spanish cities and activities related to the "Air Europa" bailout and hydrocarbon licenses, framing them as part of a broader system of influence peddling.

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Ábalos and García were found guilty of belonging to a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement of public funds, and trading in influence.

This conviction represents a substantial political setback for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, although he is not implicated in the case. Ábalos was a prominent figure within the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), having served as both transport minister and the party's organizational secretary. The guilty verdict is expected to intensify opposition pressure on Sánchez's government, especially as other corruption probes targeting the Socialist political sphere are ongoing.

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Ábalos received several benefits for using his political and administrative influence, including monthly payments of 10,000 euros, coverage of housing expenses for a person from his inner circle, and the hiring of two women connected to the former minister in state-owned companies under the Ministry of Transport's supervision.