The high-profile investigation involving former PSOE Organization Secretary Santos Cerdán has once again captured public attention. The Supreme Court’s decision not to expedite the preparation of a key report on his assets may affect the course of one of the most talked-about anti-corruption cases in recent years. For Spaniards, this is more than just another scandal: it’s a question of trust in the judicial system and transparency in the allocation of government contracts.
Judge Leopoldo Puente, who is overseeing the Koldo case, refused to pressure the Central Operative Unit of the Guardia Civil (UCO) to speed up the financial report on Cerdán. This document, commissioned back in June, is supposed to shed light on possible irregularities with public contracts. However, Cerdán’s defense argues that the delay makes it difficult to challenge the accusations and restore the politician’s reputation.
The court’s response
In his official response, Judge Puente firmly rejected the demands from Cerdán’s lawyers to accelerate the UCO’s work. He made it clear he sees no grounds for haste and does not consider that the rights of the accused are being violated. According to the judge, none of the decisions in the case assert Cerdán’s guilt—there is only a body of evidence that served as grounds for holding him accountable and placing him in temporary custody.
Puente noted that he understands the defense’s desire to obtain the report as soon as possible, but said that fulfilling these demands is currently impossible. He assured that the document will be presented shortly, and that the investigation is being conducted as thoroughly as possible. The judge also reminded that the investigation is based on facts, not assumptions, and that any accusations must be supported by evidence.
Defense position
Serdán’s lawyers claim that their client is suffering from a violation of the presumption of innocence. In their view, all previous court decisions and UCO reports have already created the public perception of Serdán as the main figure in the scheme to receive kickbacks for government contracts. The case also involves former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and his former advisor Koldo García.
The defense insists that only a complete and objective report on Serdán’s financial situation can refute the “official version” of his alleged involvement in corruption. Specifically, the lawyers deny that Serdán owns 45% of Servinabar, which investigators consider a shell company for kickbacks. According to them, the company is engaged in legitimate business, and all employees received official salaries.
Investigation details
The investigation found that the main income of Servinabar came from construction contracts awarded either through the major company Acciona or as part of temporary business consortiums (UTE). According to UCO estimates, the construction giant accounted for 75.5% of this small firm’s revenues. Investigators suspect that Servinabar may have been used to launder money gained through questionable public contract deals.
Serdán and his defense continue to assert their innocence and demand the swift release of the report, which they believe will clarify the situation. However, Judge Puente refuses to yield to the lawyers’ pressure and stresses that the investigation will only conclude once all materials have been thoroughly reviewed.
Awaiting the outcome
While the UCO report has yet to be released, Serdán’s case remains unresolved. Public interest in the investigation is growing, and political opponents are leveraging the situation to criticize the judicial system and the authorities. Each new development in the case sparks heated debate and fuels tension around Spain’s anti-corruption initiatives.
The report, which could prove to be a turning point in the Koldo case, is expected to be published soon. Until then, all parties remain on edge, while the public continues to search for answers about transparency and justice.
