He told him that if he didn’t trust him, he would remove himself as an «intermediary»: «I’d rather leave than be in this situation»
The former ministerial advisor Koldo García went as far as to tell the former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE Santos Cerdán that if he didn’t trust him, he would remove himself as an «intermediary» in the alleged exchange of payments for public works contracts. «They offered me the position of security director at the Ciudad Real airport,» he stated.
This is stated in one of the audio recordings, accessed by Europa Press, analyzed by the Central Operating Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard for the preparation of the 490-page report that led Supreme Court Judge Leopoldo Puente to order searches and raids at the home of former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos and several companies allegedly linked to irregular contract awards.
During the conversation that took place on January 21, 2021, in which only García and Cerdán –then Secretary of Territorial Organization of the PSOE– participated, it is heard how the former advisor insisted that he would step aside if they didn’t trust him.
«I haven’t asked for any money, I haven’t kept any money, I’m very happy with what I have, if you want from now on I’m not an intermediary and you, and you deliver to each other,» he asserted.
Koldo explained to Cerdán that he had been told that he had complained that he had «given more» and he had kept it. «No, I have never said that,» Cerdán replied and added that he would show him his «accounts» the next day.
«I’ll bring the accounts here tomorrow, okay,» said the former socialist leader. «I’ll have it here tomorrow and we’ll both see it,» he added.
The former ministerial advisor replied that he was happy to review the accounts. «But what I have to say… To me, (unintelligible) the situation from the other time, for you to distrust my person, I prefer to leave,» he said, although he added that he would have to deal with him «until after the national committee.» Cerdán corrected him to specify that he was referring to the «congress.»
Koldo clarified and pointed out that after «the congress» he would leave «quietly» and go «anywhere.» «With half a million that Patricia (his then partner) has in the bank, okay? Houses paid off (…) And having the one in Benidorm just in case, to have it rented out, to give me an extra (…) Personally, having everything paid off, (…) They offered me the position of security director at the Ciudad Real airport (…) ,» he stated.
Throughout the conversation, the former advisor insisted that he had been «promised to earn 4,000 bucks, and if not, Jose will surely find a place for me, so they can give me an extra 2,000 euros for another five years.»
«47 COMPANIES, I’VE HELPED THEM ALL»
Koldo acknowledged the dealings he had been carrying out in the alleged scheme: «Well, I acknowledge that 47 companies have passed through here, I’ve helped them all, okay? They’ve given me delicacies, champagne, wine, a ham…».
At the beginning of the conversation, it is also noted that Koldo stated that he had received money. «I received 450,000 from the first batch, which are three contracts of 50,000 from the last two contracts, okay? And then they gave me 70,000, which was the compensation for the part of the store, which is 570,000. Okay, understood. Those are my accounts, I don’t know if they are yours,» he told Cerdán.
The then Secretary of Territorial Organization of the PSOE replied: «No, I don’t have them memorized.»
This is one of the conversations recorded by Koldo García between 2019 and 2023 and found by UCO agents on the former advisor’s mobile phone. The agents include these recordings in the report in which they place Cerdán as the origin of an alleged commission collection scheme for public works.
According to the Civil Guard, Cerdán’s role varied: decreasing at first, to «manage payments» to Ábalos and Koldo –only the kickbacks they would have received from Acciona would amount to 620,000 euros–; to eventually rise again.