Corruption Trial of Former Spanish Minister José Luis Ábalos Opens in Madrid

The trial of former Spanish Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, his former advisor Koldo García, and businessman Víctor de Aldama opened on Tuesday at the Supreme Court in Madrid, marking the first oral hearing in the so-called Koldo case. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is seeking 24 years in prison for Ábalos, 19 and a half years for García, and seven years for Aldama. The three defendants face charges including criminal organization, bribery, influence peddling, embezzlement, and use of privileged information, all linked to alleged irregularities in mask contracts awarded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both Ábalos and García have been held in pre-trial detention at Soto del Real prison since November 27, 2025, after the court determined they posed a flight risk given the severity of the sentencing requests. All three defendants have declared themselves innocent.

Pandemic contracts worth millions sit at the heart of the case The trial centers on the alleged rigging of mask supply contracts awarded to the company Soluciones de Gestión by the public bodies Puertos del Estado and Adif in 2020, with purchases under suspicion valued at over 36 million euros, though some source articles cite a figure of 53 million euros for the broader scope of contracts examined. Prosecutors allege that Ábalos, García, and Aldama agreed to exploit the minister's position to favor certain companies in exchange for economic benefits, acting with what the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office described as intent to enrich themselves. Aldama, identified as the alleged "fixer" of the network, reportedly received preferential access to the Ministry of Transport and other public administrations, channeling contracts toward companies within his orbit. His cooperation with investigators earned him a significantly reduced sentencing request compared to his co-defendants. The trial will also examine the alleged irregular hiring of two women linked to Ábalos — Jésica Rodríguez and Claudia Montes — at public companies Ineco and Tragsatec, the payment of rent for a luxury apartment in central Madrid, and the alleged purchase of a villa in Cádiz by the former minister. 36 (million euros) — minimum value of mask contracts under suspicion

Ábalos's son and former partner take the stand on day one The first session on Tuesday featured testimony from Víctor Ábalos, the former minister's son, and Jésica Rodríguez, Ábalos's former romantic partner, two of the most closely watched witnesses in the case. Víctor Ábalos had previously testified approximately one year earlier, after Aldama accused him of signing consulting contracts with construction companies that allegedly concealed commissions for public contracts in Spain — accusations the son denied, stating he held no accounts or assets abroad. Since his father entered Soto del Real prison in November 2025, Víctor Ábalos has acted as the family's public spokesperson and described himself as his father's closest confidant. Rodríguez, whose earlier testimony during the investigation phase drew wide attention when she broke into tears before the judge while recounting her relationship with the former minister, was also called to testify. In total, the trial is expected to hear from approximately 74 witnesses and around 23 experts and Civil Guard officers over the course of 13 sessions, with the defendants themselves scheduled to testify on April 28. The proceedings are scheduled to conclude on April 30, 2026.

Key dates in the Koldo case trial: — ; — ; —

Broader corruption network still under investigation at National Court The Supreme Court trial represents only one branch of a wider corruption investigation that continues at the National Court, where magistrates are separately examining cash payments allegedly made at the headquarters of the governing Socialist Party (PSOE), the irregular awarding of major public works contracts from the Transport Ministry, and a hydrocarbons case involving additional businessmen. Several former senior Transport Ministry officials, including former Adif president Isabel Pardo de Vera and former Undersecretary of Transport Jesús Manuel Gómez, hold the status of suspects in National Court proceedings. Santos Cerdán, who succeeded Ábalos as Secretary of Organization of the PSOE and was placed in pre-trial detention on charges of criminal organization, influence peddling, and bribery, is also under investigation in a separate piece of the case. The People's Party, acting as a popular accusation, has requested even harsher sentences than the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office — 30 years for both Ábalos and García. The political implications of the trial extend beyond the three defendants: El Confidencial reported that the witness list of nearly 80 names includes figures connected to current government ministers, and the case is described as generating concern within a government that has sought to distance itself from Ábalos since the scandal broke.

The Koldo case takes its name from Koldo García Izaguirre and centers on corruption within the Spanish government during the administrations of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. José Luis Ábalos served as Minister of Development and Transport from 2018 to 2021 and simultaneously held the post of Secretary of Organization of the PSOE from 2017 to 2021, making him one of the most powerful figures in both the government and the ruling party during that period. The investigation originated in the context of emergency public procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic, when governments across Spain moved rapidly to acquire health material under conditions of acute market scarcity and reduced oversight. The Civil Guard's Central Operative Unit (UCO) produced investigative reports that, according to the indicting magistrate, formed the evidentiary backbone of the case alongside Aldama's cooperation with prosecutors.