Key facts
- Spain's Supreme Court sentenced former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison.
- The conviction is for a corruption scheme linked to COVID-19 mask contracts.
- Ábalos's former aide, Koldo García, received a 19-year prison sentence.
- Businessman Víctor de Aldama was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
- The case involves illicit gains from public contracts during the pandemic.
Spain's Supreme Court has delivered a significant judicial blow, sentencing former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison. The conviction stems from his role in a corruption scheme that profited from COVID-19 mask contracts during the pandemic. Ábalos's former aide, Koldo García, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for his participation in the scheme. Businessman Víctor de Aldama also received a sentence of four and a half years. The court's decision highlights the judicial system's action against high-level corruption involving public officials and business figures. The scheme's focus on mask contracts during a public health crisis underscores the severity of the charges. This ruling is expected to have repercussions within the political landscape of Spain, given Ábalos's former ministerial position.