Ábalos tells the Supreme Court that he does not recognize himself in the audio recordings and denies everything.

MadridJosé Luis Ábalos and Koldo García have entered and left the Supreme Court on their own two feet. The popular accusations led by the PP had requested their preventive detention, but investigating judge Leopoldo Puente upheld the revocation of their passports and the requirement that they appear in court every two weeks. All this follows the questioning of the former Minister of Transport and his former advisor this Monday following the latest revelations in the case, which now also implicates the former number three of the PSOE (Socialist Workers' Party), Santos Cerdán. Ábalos, who stated that he was fit to testify, ended up responding to the prosecutor and the judge that he did not recognize himself in the audio recordings released two weeks ago in which they discussed the distribution of commissions derived from contract awards, while Koldo invoked his right not to testify.

It was surprising that Ábalos responded and denied everything, given that on Thursday he had hinted that he would cooperate with justice and admit to the plot. His lawyer met with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, Alejandro Luzón, and in an interview on Cadena SER, the former minister implicated the party's former number three, Santos Cerdán. "They used me," he claimed, referring to Cerdán and Koldo García, who are suspected of having launched the alleged corruption scheme in Navarra. However, this Sunday, a meeting between Ábalos and his former advisor reportedly took place, less than 24 hours before their respective statements, and the result is that the current member of Congress has preferred to deny everything.

"Consolidated Evidence"

The judge has ruled out provisional imprisonment because he sees no risk of flight or destruction of evidence – the UCO searched his home two weeks ago – although "the indications of criminality against Ábalos appear seriously consolidated," according to the order issued this Monday. In addition to the three properties from which he would have benefited directly or indirectly, possible illegal commissions derived from contracts awarded by the ministry he commanded have now been added. "From the latest reports from the police unit, there are very strong indications that both Mr. Ábalos and Mr. García Izaguirre could have obtained illicit economic benefits in exchange for the improper awarding of public works, in concert with third parties for this purpose," he emphasizes.

According to several sources present at the statement, Ábalos has assured that he intends to cooperate with justice, but has hinted that audios recorded by Koldo and intercepted by the Civil Guard would be manipulated. He also denied that Cerdán had any influence on the ministry's contracts. His appearance lasted approximately an hour; Koldo, on the other hand, was brief because, after changing lawyers, he preferred to remain silent. Next Monday, it will be the turn of the former PSOE organization secretary, who will respond and defend his innocence, according to sources from his defense. His strategy is to deny having any involvement in the company Servinabar, one of those that allegedly launched the commission-collection scheme in Navarra and which is believed to have links with Acciona.

The appearances of Ábalos and Koldo have generated great media attention and also from a small group of people—about ten—who gathered at the doors of the Supreme Court to heckle them. Shouts of "Pimps, return the money" and also criticism of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. One of the entities carrying out the popular accusation, the ultra-Catholic Hazte Oír, has offered to pay for the protesters' drinks at the Supremo bar, located opposite the court.