A former transport minister from Spain has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for corruption.

The Supreme Court in Madrid sentenced former Spanish Minister of Transport, José Luis Ábalos, to 24 years in prison for corruption, in a case involving the procurement of sanitary equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside him, his former advisor, Koldo García, received a 19-year sentence, while businessman Víctor de Aldama was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison, suspended, in exchange for cooperating with investigators.

The court established that the three formed an organized criminal group involved in the diversion of public funds and influence peddling. The charges include receiving payments and benefits in exchange for facilitating the awarding of contracts. During the trial, de Aldama suggested that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez might have been aware of the illegal activities, claims rejected by Sánchez, who denies any involvement.