Spain’s judicial system is once again in the spotlight following one of the most significant financial scandals in recent years. Claudio Rivas, a partner of the well-known intermediary Víctor de Aldama and former landlord of ex-minister José Luis Ábalos, may find himself in the dock. Investigators suspect him of being involved in a fraud exceeding 70 million euros, linked to the company SKT Oil.
This is not the only case involving Rivas. Simultaneously, he is a defendant in another investigation, which centers on the company Villafuel. In that case, both Rivas and Aldama were placed in pre-trial detention in autumn 2024. However, it is the SKT Oil affair that truly shocked Spanish society with the scale and audacity of its scheme.
A complex scheme
Case materials detail how the group’s members built an entire network of shell companies and forged documents. According to investigators, SKT Oil artificially inflated VAT deductions using invoices from non-existent or inactive firms. This allowed them to conceal vast sums of money and reintroduce them into the legal economy, evading tax authorities.
Similar methods, as investigators note, were also used through another fuel company—Owtra Oil. Over three years, from 2016 to 2018, SKT Oil alone managed to evade taxes totaling nearly 64 million euros. Owtra Oil, according to the investigation, failed to pay an additional 7.2 million euros into the treasury in 2018.
Money and real estate
According to the court, the criminal proceeds were not left to sit in accounts, but were actively invested in real estate. Purchases included an apartment and a plot in Valdemoro (Madrid), six apartments in Benidorm (Alicante), a commercial property in Madrid valued at 1.6 million euros, and an entire residential building with 45 units bought in 2018 for 1.6 million and sold four years later for almost double the price.
Investigators are convinced: such investments were part of a money laundering scheme. Buying and then reselling real estate allowed group members not only to hide the origins of the funds but also to generate additional profits. According to the court, this entire chain of transactions points to a well-organized criminal structure.
Charges and defendants
As part of the investigation, Judge Antonio Piña proposed holding not only Rivas but also 21 other individuals accountable. They face charges of crimes against the tax system, forgery of commercial documents, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization. Case files emphasize that these are not isolated incidents, but systematic activities spanning several years and involving dozens of people.
Particular attention is paid to the role of Rivas, who investigators believe was one of the key coordinators of the scheme. His connections to other suspects and his experience in similar operations made it possible to build a resilient network capable of evading government oversight. However, the defense insists there is no direct evidence and demands an objective review of the case.
Reaction and consequences
The public outcry surrounding the case is enormous. In Spain, schemes of this scale are rarely uncovered, with not only millions of euros involved but also elite real estate in prestigious areas. Many observers point out that such proceedings undermine trust in both business and government institutions, and also raise concerns about the effectiveness of financial oversight.
The court proceedings promise to be long and complex. Ahead lie interrogations, expert evaluations, analysis of financial documents, and possibly new sensational revelations. Spanish society is closely following the developments, as the stakes are not just the fate of individuals but also the reputation of entire sectors of the economy.
