A new round of a high-profile investigation is unfolding in Spain, involving former officials of the Socialist Party. The Civil Guard has completed a technical review of audio recordings found in the possession of Koldo García, concluding that there are no signs of tampering or manipulation. This finding has become a key argument for the court as it examines possible corruption schemes in the procurement of medical masks during the height of the pandemic.
The recordings, which total nearly 16 hours, were discovered at García’s house in Polop de Marina (Alicante) during a search in February 2024. In addition to the recordings, officers seized 23 mobile phones and a digital voice recorder. One of the main files—featuring the names of Ábalos and Serdán—was found on this recorder, while the others were on several iPhones.
The presiding judge emphasized that the recordings were not obtained through wiretapping but were found directly with the former adviser. According to the court, this makes it highly unlikely that they were artificially created or manipulated using modern technology. Moreover, the poor sound quality also suggests the recordings weren’t edited or forged.
Previously, the defendants attempted to challenge the authenticity of the materials, claiming they could have been altered or that the voices on the recordings were not theirs. However, now, following the experts’ conclusions, these arguments appear unconvincing. The judge emphasized that if even García himself was unable to modify the files, then it was all the more impossible for the Guardia officers to have done so.
As a result, the court denied the release of one of the case’s suspects, and the investigation continues. The public is closely following the developments, as the case involves potential violations at the very highest levels of government.
