The Supreme Court has decided to maintain the provisional detention of former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and his former advisor Koldo García, considering there is a risk that they may evade justice, with the trial for illegal commissions on mask contracts during the pandemic pending. The court has dismissed the appeals presented by the former minister and his advisor, who have been in prison since 27 November. The defences of both presented their arguments before the Chamber in a hearing, where the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the popular accusation led by the PP reiterated their request to keep the accused in prison. The Chamber determines that preventive detention is necessary to prevent the risk of both evading legal action, considering the requested penalties: the Prosecutor’s Office is seeking 24 years for the former minister and 19.5 years for his former advisor, while the popular accusations demand up to 30 years. The judges also note the strength of the evidence supporting the requests of the accusations, along with the proximity of the start of the oral trial, which is expected to begin after Easter.
