Spanish Prosecutor Increases Charges in Face Mask Procurement Case
A wide-ranging investigation into a corruption scheme involving the allocation of government contracts for medical mask supply continues in Spain. The anti-corruption prosecutor has submitted interim findings to the Supreme Court, highlighting the importance of evidence provided by Víctor de Aldama. His cooperation with investigators has been a key factor in the launch of a separate probe into suspected fraud involving state contracts, in which former PSOE organizational secretary Santos Cerdán is implicated.
As part of this case, prosecutors are seeking a 24-year prison sentence for former minister José Luis Ábalos and 19.5 years for former adviser Koldo García. For Aldama himself, who agreed to cooperate with authorities and admitted guilt, prosecutors have requested a 7-year sentence, taking into account mitigating circumstances.
Scheme Details: confessions, documents, and new suspects
Investigators note that Aldama not only admitted his involvement but also described in detail the nature of his relationships with other members of the scheme and the mechanism for obtaining lucrative contracts. According to him, interactions with Ábalos and García were based on regular meetings and coordinated actions aimed at securing favorable decisions regarding the allocation of government contracts. As evidence, screenshots of budget documents with annotations were provided, which, according to expert analysis, were made by Koldo García. This allowed the investigation to confirm the involvement of Serdán and several businesspeople in the manipulation of state contracts.
As a result of these confessions, a separate part of the investigation was launched, focusing exclusively on issues related to the distribution of government contracts. The prosecutor’s office emphasizes that the information provided by Aldama not only matches other evidence in the case but has also helped identify new episodes and participants in the scheme.
Financial operations and new developments in the case
During the investigation, it was revealed that large sums of cash passed through members of the scheme, in addition to various services and benefits being provided. Investigators paid particular attention to a contract between Aldama and Ábalos for the lease with a future purchase of an apartment on Castellana Avenue in Madrid. This agreement had previously been unknown to investigators and became further evidence of the close ties among those involved in the case.
The prosecution notes that Aldama’s confessions are not exculpatory—in fact, they confirm his active involvement in the criminal scheme. His testimony formed the basis of the case against other participants, including Serdán, and led to stricter preventive measures. In particular, Serdán is now required to regularly appear in court and is prohibited from leaving the country.
Case prospects and next steps in the investigation
The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors do not rule out uncovering new episodes and suspects. The mask procurement case has already become one of the most high-profile corruption scandals in Spain in recent years. Investigators aim to secure maximum sentences for the scheme’s key players, emphasizing that cooperation with law enforcement may be the only mitigating factor for the accused.
In the near future, the court will review the evidence presented and decide the fate of those involved. The public is closely following the case, expecting new details and rulings in a scandal that has shaken the country’s highest levels of power.
