Ábalos claims in the Supreme Court that he does not recognize himself in the audio recordings that implicate him in rigging and that they could be manipulated.

Former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos asserted before the Supreme Court this Monday that he does not recognize himself in the recordings made by his former advisor Koldo García between 2019 and 2023, which were included in the report by the Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit (UCO), which places them both—along with the former PSOE Organization Secretary—at the center of an alleged scheme to rig public works contracts in exchange for kickbacks. According to his statement, the recordings could be manipulated.

Legal sources have confirmed to Europa Press that Ábalos made this statement in his statement as a suspect in the case in which he is being investigated for alleged crimes of membership in a criminal organization and bribery. This is the third time he has appeared in this proceeding: first in December voluntarily and then in February as a formal suspect.

According to these sources, the former minister has been categorical in stating that he did not recognize himself in these recordings; in addition to not recognizing his voice, he has maintained that it is impossible for him to have held several of the conversations recorded by the Civil Guard in its report.

In his statement, Ábalos also denied irregularities in the awarding of contracts that are under scrutiny by the Supreme Court and maintained that at no time did he receive commissions to rig public works contracts.

Monday's questioning focused on three sections: one on the bailout of Air Europa, another on the hiring of Claudia Montes—known for winning the Miss Asturias +30 2017 pageant—at the public company Logirail, and the last on the UCO report on irregularities in public works contracts.

Regarding the Air Europa bailout, Ábalos was asked about the press release from the Ministry of Transport that the businessman and alleged schemer, Víctor de Aldama, allegedly received. The former minister distanced himself from the matter, asserting that he neither gave instructions for drafting the press release nor for sending the document to the businessman.

Regarding Montes's hiring, he stated that he made no arrangements for her to join Logirail. He said he met her at an event in Gijón and spoke to her on social media, but he didn't help her find a job.

In his statement, he also addressed the accusations against him alleging that he participated in the placement of personnel at Adif and the General Directorate of Highways. He stated that several people contacted him during his tenure as minister to request positions; however, he denied having intervened in any of the cases.

Thus, Ábalos has maintained the same line as in previous statements, despite the nervousness generated by the 'Cerdán report', which led his defense and Koldo's to rethink their strategy.

A possible cooperation in the form of a confession, like De Aldama's at the National Court, could result in a reduced sentence at the end of the proceedings. However, following Monday's statement, the Anti-Corruption Office sees "zero cooperation" from the former minister, according to the prosecutorial sources consulted.

Following Ábalos' statement on Monday, a preliminary hearing was held, during which the Prosecutor's Office requested that the current measures be maintained—a ban on leaving the country, revocation of passports, and periodic court appearances—and the Popular Party (PP)-led prosecution bodies requested provisional imprisonment.

The same sources indicate that the investigating judge, Leopoldo Puente, is expected to rule on the case this Monday, after an appearance that lasted approximately an hour and a half.