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Supreme Court confirms Ábalos and Koldo's convictions, opening door to Constitutional appeal

Supreme Court confirms Ábalos and Koldo's convictions, opening door to Constitutional appeal

The Supreme Court has confirmed the convictions of 24 years in prison for former minister José Luis Ábalos and 19 years for Koldo García, his former advisor, in the context of the masks case. According to El Correo, the high court rejected the defense's requests to annul the sentence, consolidating the National Court's ruling.

What happened

The Supreme Court's Criminal Chamber dismissed the appeals filed by Ábalos and Koldo, maintaining the full sentences imposed for the crime of embezzlement of public funds, as detailed by Onda Vasca and Atlántico. With this resolution, the ordinary judicial path in the criminal sphere is exhausted. However, the court has left the door open for both convicts to file an appeal before the Constitutional Court, as noted by Eldía and El Periódico. Antena 3 Noticias confirms that the defense's strategy will now focus on this last constitutional resort.

Why it affects you

Although this case is strictly political and criminal, its resolution sets a precedent regarding the interpretation of embezzlement in public contracts. For the average citizen, the relevance lies in the transparency of the management of state funds during the pandemic. If you are a public sector professional or contractor, this ruling reinforces the need for impeccable traceability in the awarding of tenders, especially in emergency situations. The confirmation of these sentences increases the legal risk for any irregularity in the purchase of sanitary or protective material.

  • Contract review: Ensure that all public tender documentation is archived and auditable.
  • Legal consulting: In case of any doubt about the legality of a purchase procedure, seek specialized advice before signing.

HotelsCasa's take

The confirmation of these convictions by the Supreme Court is not just a judicial closure, but a clear message about responsibility in the management of public affairs. In a sector like housing and tourism, where public funds often intertwine with private investment, opacity is the number one enemy. The Constitutional Court route will be the last bastion, but the shadow of embezzlement will weigh on any project that cannot demonstrate absolute cleanliness in its accounts. Investor and tenant trust depends on institutions acting with a transparency that this ruling, at least in its outcome, attempts to restore.

Oleg Tarassenko — Founder and editorial director, HotelsCasa

Where we got it from

  • Ábalos and Koldo will appeal to the Constitutional Court after the Supreme Court confirmed their convictions in the masks case — Antena 3 Noticias
  • The Supreme Court upholds the 24-year prison sentence for Ábalos and the 19-year sentence for Koldo in the masks case — Onda Vasca
  • The Supreme Court ratifies the convictions of Ábalos and Koldo and rejects their appeals — Diario en Positivo
  • The Supreme Court confirms the convictions of Ábalos and Koldo by rejecting their requests to annul the mask sentence — Infobae
  • The Supreme Court confirms the convictions of Ábalos and Koldo and opens the door for them to go to the Constitutional Court — El Progreso de Lugo
  • The Supreme Court confirms the 24-year prison sentence for Ábalos and 19 years for Koldo García — Atlántico
  • The Supreme Court rejects the annulment of the conviction of Ábalos and Koldo and allows them to seek protection in the Constitutional Court — El Periódico

    • The cited media report it; HotelsCasa collects it exactly as they publish it.