Civil Guard sub-lieutenant summoned as investigated party in 'Koldo case'
The judge investigating the proceedings on alleged irregularities in the purchase of face masks has summoned as an investigated party an armed forces officer who had connections with the former adviser to Ábalos.
Civil Guard sub-lieutenant summoned as investigated party in 'Koldo case'
Judge Ismael Moreno, in charge of directing the investigation at the National Court into alleged irregularities in the acquisition of face masks, has agreed to summon José Luis Rodríguez, a Civil Guard sub-lieutenant, to appear as an investigated party. The hearing is scheduled for 8 July. The information has been published by ABC.
The officer is no longer part of the active personnel in the position he held when the facts under investigation occurred, as he has passed into the reserve. The inquiries centred on this judicial proceeding pointed towards him because of his position in the department directed by Ábalos and because of his closeness to Koldo García, who acted as a collaborator to the then minister.
The relevance of this uniformed officer came to the fore during the oral proceedings held in the high court against Ábalos himself, his former assistant, and businessman Víctor de Aldama. In that session, Rodríguez appeared as a witness and confirmed that the former adviser had introduced the businessman to him on one occasion.
In his intervention before the court, the sub-lieutenant expressed his astonishment at the privileges enjoyed by the alleged fixer. According to his account, the businessman was able to leave his vehicle in the car park reserved for authorities and access the ministerial building without impediment. Rodríguez emphasised that he, despite being part of the department's staff, lacked authorisation to park in that area. "For me it is the only case I know of where, not belonging to the Ministry, they still had access to the Ministry," he stated. "He would go up and enter without asking anyone for permission," he added.
The judicial proceeding continues in order to shed light on the alleged corruption scheme related to the purchase of sanitary materials during the height of the pandemic.
Source: ABC