Patricia Uriz, Koldo García’s former partner, testified on Monday in the fourth day of the Koldo case trial at Spain’s Supreme Court, with her image protected. She described managing cash for PSOE and Ministry of Transport expenses, and denied recognizing WhatsApp messages about “chistorras”. Other key witnesses have also hidden their faces during testimony.
The trial at Spain’s Supreme Court examines alleged irregularities in mask purchases during the pandemic at the Ministry of Transport, involving former minister José Luis Ábalos and his advisor Koldo García.
Patricia Uriz, who never married García, requested her image not be broadcast. She explained keeping around 10,000 euros in cash in the home wardrobe for daily expenses, up to 13,000 euros when Guardia Civil searched the house. She handled reimbursements for Ábalos and García’s expenses at the Ministry, PSOE headquarters in Ferraz, and personal matters, collecting cash envelopes and requiring receipts for all payments, as she testified.
The lawyer for the popular prosecution questioned her about WhatsApp messages where García mentioned “2,000 chistorras”, which she denied recognizing. García had claimed they referred literally to sausages.
Other witnesses including Jésica Rodríguez, Ábalos’ former partner, and real estate agent Manuel Pérez Vilariño also testified with protected images. Vilariño assessed a potential bribe to Ábalos in the form of a chalet rental, deeming it unprofitable, according to testimony reported by EL PAÍS.
