The dismissed Ports official declared that Koldo "would be the person who obtained the distribution of masks with the Interior"

He told the investigators that the former advisor was the one who was trying to solve the problems and that he managed to solve one with Customs

MADRID, 7 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The former Secretary General of State Ports Álvaro Sánchez Manzanares, dismissed this week by Minister Óscar Puente for the purchase of the alleged corruption plot, assured the Civil Guard that Koldo García - former advisor to former Minister José Luis Ábalos - "would be "the person who arranged the distribution of masks with the Ministry of the Interior."

He stated this on February 21 in his statement as a witness before the Armed Institute, to which Europa Press has had access, when asked about his relationship with Koldo, who is accused in the National Court for allegedly collecting irregular commissions on contracts. .

Sánchez Manzanares told the investigators that Koldo García was the one who was trying to solve the problems that arose with the masks and expressed that he managed to fix an incident with Customs.

When asked if he knew or had any type of work or professional relationship with the former advisor, he said that he knew him because he was the advisor to Ábalos, then Minister of Transportation, and related that he dealt with Koldo on numerous occasions about the distribution of masks and the logistical needs for delivery.

The person who was a senior official at State Ports stated that Koldo "would be the person who arranged the distribution of masks with the Ministry of the Interior" and that, although he was part of the Governing Council of State Ports, the treatment between them became common after following the hiring of masks, reaching a "friendship".

The Civil Guard asked him if Koldo's functions were those of an advisor to the Minister of Transport, to which Sánchez Manzanares responded that he did not know, but added that "he was the person who tried to solve the problems that arose."

The witness said he did not know if Koldo was the one who solved the problems or raised them for solution, although he stated that on one occasion they had a problem with Customs and called Koldo, after which "someone from Customs got in touch to resolve the issue." incidence".

Sánchez Manzanares also told the agents that the former advisor asked him political questions related to the PSOE and he gave him his personal opinion, "given that Koldo's training is limited." Likewise, he pointed out that they have sometimes seen each other at the State Ports headquarters and have talked about the former advisor's "concerns."

The then senior official denied to the agents that he had received orders or pressure to influence the award to Management Solutions of the contract for 8 million masks, which amounted to 20 million euros.

He stated that "there was only one supplier at that time", that they looked for more but "there was no market" and that although they did not know the company, they trusted it because it said it had the possibility of both purchasing and transporting medical supplies.

And he stated that they carried out the basic legal checks required by the emergency contracting procedure and Management Solutions "met the requirements."

Regarding how he contacted the company at the center of the plot, Sánchez Manzanares declared that the only contact person was the businessman Íñigo Rotaeche - also accused -, adding that he did not remember who facilitated the contact.

When asked if he knows or has any type of professional link with Víctor de Aldama - president of Zamora CF and supposed 'achiever' of the plot -, Sánchez Manzanares indicated that he knows him, since he was the person who informed him of the freight planes needed to bring the masks.

Going into details, the witness said that after starting to work with Management Solutions, De Aldama was the one who told him that the plane that was initially going to transport the masks, "was lost because the contracting procedures had not been completed on time." , and added that he believes he had contact with the airline Air Europa.

Who he does not know, as he pointed out to Benemérita, is the person considered the alleged 'brain' of the case, the businessman Juan Carlos Cueto.

On the sidelines, the former senior official said that he did not know if Koldo received money for intermediating between the investigated company and the Administration for the masks, while stating that Puertos del Estado "was one of the most efficient organizations in contracting" because they obtained the material "on time and at a reasonable price, thereby avoiding the collapse of the system."

For his part, the one who was president of Puertos del Estado at the time of the investigated events, Francisco Toledo, discharged all responsibility for hiring Management Solutions in Sánchez Manzanares, who informed him - as he said - that Transportes had chosen to buy masks because it was the entity that had sufficient funds to obtain the material urgently.