The arrest of an Ábalos advisor occurred due to bribery of Transport, Interior and CCAA contracts in the pandemic

Twenty people are affected by criminal organization, influence peddling and bribery of at least 50 million euros

MADRID, 21 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The judicial investigation for which Koldo García Izaguirre, who was an advisor to former socialist minister José Luis Ábalos, has been arrested, investigates alleged bribery in contracts during the Covid-19 pandemic whose material was destined for the Ministries of Transport and Interior, as well as communities. autonomous regions (CCAA) such as the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, as sources from the investigation have informed Europa Press.

This is an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office headed by Central Court number 2 of the National Court, which yesterday authorized the arrest of 20 people, including Koldo García, and around 26 home searches or requests.

As reported by the Prosecutor's Office in a press release, the proceedings carried out - declared secret - affect several Spanish provinces and are related to alleged criminal acts associated with crimes of criminal organization, influence peddling and bribery, related to the awarding of different contracts from various administrations.

Sources from the investigation have assured Europa Press that no public officials are among those detained, since the proceedings focus on the role of intermediaries such as Koldo García and the rest of those involved in the contracting of material to confront Covid-19. 19 by the Ministries of Transport – of which Ábalos was head –, the Ministry of the Interior and the Autonomous Communities of the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

These sources indicate that the amount of the contracts of these public administrations exceeds 50 million euros, according to the researchers' estimate.

Koldo García Izaguirre was an advisor to José Luis Ábalos during the latter's time as Secretary of Organization of the PSOE and Minister of Transport. His role as a person close to Ábalos was the subject of several controversies, including his participation in the meeting at the Madrid-Barajas airport with the vice president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, which is why the opposition asked for explanations in the Congress.

This advisor was appointed by Ábalos as a director of Renfe Mercancías, among other positions, one of the companies that depend on the Ministry of Transport and whose contracts during the pandemic are now the subject of investigations for the alleged bribes that some intermediaries would have charged.

José Luis Ábalos was Minister of Development between 2018 and 2021, a stage in which he combined the position with that of Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, with Pedro Sánchez as general secretary of the party. He is currently a deputy and president of the Interior Commission in Congress.