The documentation presented to the National Court highlights the central role of Víctor de Aldama in the negotiations and procedures that led to the acquisition of a house in Cádiz by the entourage of José Luis Ábalos. As Europa Press reports, the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil has provided the judicial investigation with records and documents linking the acquisition of this land to the granting of a corresponding management license to the company Villafuel, which specializes in the hydrocarbon sector.
According to Europa Press, the investigation includes material evidence and conversation recordings that support the investigators’ hypothesis of an exchange of favors between the political sphere and economic actors. The UCO explained that the villa, located in the urbanization of La Alcaidesa, in the province of Cádiz, would have acted as a reward for the environment of Ábalos in the context of the approval of government permits that would have benefited Villafuel. This evidence was analyzed and presented to the judge in charge of the case, Santiago Pedraz, who is currently integrating new witness statements, recordings and documentary expertise.
The report contained in the summary describes how Koldo García, Ábalos’ advisor at the time, actively led the location and real estate negotiations, maintaining fluid contact with Claudio Rivas – whom the UCO identifies as a key player in the conspiracy – and with Víctor de Aldama himself. Europa Press highlighted that in the last months of 2020, García sent Rivas selected real estate advertisements on specialized portals, including the property eventually acquired and made available to Ábalos. According to the Civil Guard, this process temporarily coincides with the processing and subsequent issuance of the essential authorizations for the development of Villafuel’s activity.
Europa Press reported that the records provided were one of the main pieces of evidence in the case. Below, in an intercepted conversation between Leonor González and Natán González collected by the UCO, there is the sentence: “Son of a bitch, the whoremonger. He robbed the house and pressed the button.” For researchers, this fragment reveals a clear connection between the handover of the house and the signing of the license. The report highlights that the network under investigation would have set up a system to promote business interests in exchange for real estate and economic compensation.
In its analysis, the Civil Guard took into account both asset movements and the reconstruction of contacts maintained before and after the acquisition of the property. According to Europa Press, these investigations aim to prove the existence of a coordinated organization involving officials, suspected intermediaries and businessmen with ties to the energy sector. Koldo García’s role appears to be an essential link between the parties, as he facilitated communication, transmitted offers and participated in the final selection of the chalet.
According to Europa Press, the UCO investigation is based on the interpretation of the recorded conversations and expert reports, which focus on the economic processes related to the purchase of the house and the obtaining of permits for Villafuel. The researchers said in their reports that they found a synchronization between the conduct of real estate procedures and the issuance of important administrative decisions by government bodies. The police hypothesis suggests a direct coordination between the public interests represented by the Ábalos circle and the demands of the energy company.
The progress of the summary, as confirmed by sources collected by Europa Press, included new asset documentation and authorized telephone interventions, added to the evidence already presented. The national court examines the scope of the relationships between the parties involved, as well as the possible legal impact on the administrative decisions taken and the economic advantages that Villafuel derives from the authorizations granted.
The trial, presided over by Santiago Pedraz, remains open pending new expert reports, the review of additional records and the analysis of the business and personal relationships between the defendants. The UCO is focusing its investigation on delineating the mechanisms in place between the political actors involved and the economic agents to determine whether an improper transfer of favors in exchange for private compensation has taken place, Europa Press reported.
About The Author
