MADRID (AFP) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez headed a criminal organization that rigged public contracts and illegally funded his Socialist party, a defendant in a trial that has threatened the government told a court on Wednesday.
The trial of Sanchez's former right-hand man Jose Luis Abalos is just one of several investigations into alleged corruption by the Socialist premier's family and ex-political allies that have rocked his fragile minority coalition.
Abalos, a former transport minister and Socialist heavyweight who helped propel Sanchez to power in 2018, is accused of earning kickbacks for the irregular awarding of contracts for face masks at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prosecutors say Abalos abused his position in government to allow businessman Victor de Aldama to land the lucrative contracts, with ex-adviser Koldo Garcia acting as an intermediary.
Abalos and Garcia have consistently denied the allegations and are due to speak at the Supreme Court in Madrid later on Wednesday.
Aldama, who was released from custody before the trial after cooperating with the investigation, told the court that some of the profits from the scheme funded the Socialists.
"If there is a hierarchy in this case," Sanchez "was at level one", followed by Abalos and Garcia, said Aldama, who had already leveled such accusations at the prime minister.
"Thank you very much for everything, I know exactly what you are doing and I just wanted to thank you," Aldama quoted Sanchez as telling him during an encounter.
Aldama said he was surprised by the "closeness" of the prime minister and Garcia. He told the court Abalos' former adviser said Sanchez "owes me a lot, and he knows why."
Sanchez has always denied illegal financing of the Socialist party.
Senior Socialist official Rebeca Torro slammed Aldama's "slander" on X, saying that he "has turned lies into his defense strategy. It's been two years now of accusing without evidence."
Succession of scandals
Prosecutors are seeking 24 years in jail for Abalos on charges including bribery, embezzlement, influence peddling and membership of a criminal organization.
Abalos allegedly received cash and favors he used to finance a sumptuous lifestyle, including family holidays and a luxury Madrid flat for his now ex-partner.
Since the trial began on April 7, dozens of witnesses have been questioned about alleged wrongdoing, including the movement of cash in envelopes and the appointment of Abalos' ex-lover to fake jobs in public companies.
Proceedings are scheduled to end on Thursday, but reaching a sentence may take months.
The case has damaged Sanchez, who came to power vowing to clean up Spanish politics after the main conservative Popular Party (PP) was convicted in its own graft affair.
After removing Abalos from the powerful post of Socialist organization secretary, Sanchez picked a successor, Santos Cerdan, who is also under investigation for alleged corruption in public contracts.
The Socialists' turmoil has rocked relations with their far-left junior coalition partner Sumar and an array of fringe and regional separatist parties whose support is essential to pass legislation.
Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, could go on trial for allegedly exploiting her position for private gain, in an investigation that has lasted two years and dominated headlines.
His brother David Sanchez will face trial in May on suspicion of being irregularly appointed to a local government post.
The PP and far-right opposition party Vox say the accumulation of scandals has exposed systemic Socialist corruption that reaches Sanchez himself, demanding his resignation and early elections.
Sanchez has rebuffed the calls and plans to see out his term until the next scheduled general election in 2027.
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By Agence France-Presse
Source: Courthouse News Service
