In the latest session of Spain's Supreme Court trial over the Koldo mask scandal—following testimonies from Víctor de Aldama and Koldo García—former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos denied all corruption charges on May 4, 2026. Anticorruption prosecutors refused to further cut collaborator Aldama's penalty, while the PP reduced its request to avoid prison for him.
Ábalos testified for over six hours, rejecting claims of receiving money from Víctor de Aldama or influencing irregular pandemic mask contracts. Confronted with audios of conversations with his former aide Koldo García, he quipped, 'All they've found is 94,000 euros unaccounted for. That's the big mask corruption case!' to prosecutor Alejandro Luzón.
He blamed personal expense advances from Koldo on the aide's 'laziness,' noted his minimal cash needs as minister, and accused Guardia Civil's UCO unit of 'permanent bias.' Ábalos defended rental deals and his ex-partner Jésica Rodríguez's public sector jobs as legitimate, alleging coercion by Aldama, and lamented having to 'prove the hypotheses.'
Prosecutors maintained their demands: 24 years for Ábalos, 19.5 years for Koldo García, and seven years for Aldama, despite his cooperation detailing PSOE financing issues in prior testimony. Sources indicated Attorney General Teresa Peramato opposed further reductions after internal discussions. The opposition PP, as popular prosecution, lowered its penalty request for Aldama to just over five years (under two years individually), citing his 'very qualified' confession.
At the defenses' request, the court postponed final reports by one day. Ábalos described his relationship with Koldo as one of 'loyalty'; Koldo remained silent during the session.
