Spanish PM’s former right-hand man jailed for 24 years for corruption
Summary
Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced former transport minister José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison for taking bribes related to public contracts for sanitary equipment during the Covid pandemic. His aide, Koldo García, was sentenced to 19 years, and both were found guilty of corruption-related crimes. The trial is part of wider scandals involving Spain’s government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.Key Facts
- José Luis Ábalos was jailed for 24 years for accepting bribes tied to Covid sanitary contracts.
- Koldo García, Ábalos’s aide, received a 19-year prison sentence.
- Both were found guilty of crimes including bribery, money laundering, and misuse of public funds.
- The court said these crimes harm democracy by turning public power into personal gain.
- The sentencing happened just days after a separate court ruled Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, may flee and took away her passport over her own corruption case.
- Begoña Gómez is accused of using her influence to get sponsors for a university course and misusing state funds.
- The judge’s comments about Gómez’s security detail triggered disciplinary actions and criticism from police and the government.
- The corruption cases are part of broader political struggles in Spain, with accusations of politically motivated legal actions from opposition groups.
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