The Supreme Court has scheduled for 7 April the start of the oral hearing against former minister José Luis Ábalos, his adviser Koldo García, and businessman Víctor de Aldama, concerning the irregularities in mask contracts during the pandemic. The Criminal Court has issued a ruling rejecting the objections presented by the lawyers of the former minister and his former adviser, meaning that both, along with Aldama, will face trial. The Supreme Court will judge them on charges of bribery, influence peddling, misappropriation of funds, membership in a criminal organisation, misuse of confidential information, forgery, and malfeasance. The Public Prosecutor’s Office seeks a sentence of 24 years for the former minister and 19 and a half years for his former adviser, while the plaintiffs demand up to 30 years in prison. For businessman Víctor de Aldama, a 7-year sentence is requested due to his cooperation with the Public Prosecutor’s Office after admitting his involvement in the events. Ábalos and Koldo have been in preventive detention since 27 November due to flight risk.
