The Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil states in a report that the former Transport minister José Luis Ábalos “would have resorted” to Cristian Corvillo, known for having been pointed out as Pedro Sánchez’s driver in his career toward the PSOE general secretariat, to obtain funds with which his partner, Andrea de la Torre, could buy a home in Madrid.
In the document, which Europa Press has obtained access to and which has been sent to the judge of the National Court of Spain (Audiencia Nacional) investigating the ‘Koldo case’, Ismael Moreno, investigators point to the alleged involvement of Corvillo — arrested last week and released hours later — “in the channelling of funds destined for Ábalos’s circle, in a context marked by the collection of economic consideration linked to construction companies awarded public contracts”.
The agents focus on February 12, 2024, the date on which De la Torre — also detained — received 65,000 euros as a “loan” through a Portuguese company linked to a third party. “Subsequently, Andrea would have allocated these funds to the acquisition of the so-called Casa de Cerro del Murmullo,” located in the district of Vallecas, in Madrid, according to what the UCO details.
The report underlines that the “temporal proximity” between “the economic need expressed by Ábalos and the search for financing to acquire a home for Andrea, together with the subsequent meeting held with Corvillo, would indicate that the former minister,” removed in July 2021, “would have resorted to the latter to obtain that financing”.
“This hypothesis finds support in the practical coincidence between the amount Ábalos was seeking and the purchase price of the Casa de Cerro del Murmullo, as well as in the elements that point to a possible ability of influence by Corvillo,” whom they identify as a businessman, “over the person who ultimately facilitated the money.”
According to the UCO, Corvillo would have relied on third parties to take part in certain economic operations, “avoiding appearing directly in the companies involved,” although they emphasize that from the examination of the messages with Aldama “it follows that he would have some ascendancy” over the company that granted the loan to De la Torre.
Purchase of the home and a parking space for 125,000 euros
The investigators add that, in April 2024, De la Torre formalized the purchase of two properties for a combined amount of 125,000 euros, which "would have been paid by means of two cheques and a bank transfer, using for them the funds previously received."
According to the analysis of the seized electronic devices, the UCO explains that Ábalos, at the end of 2023, carried out steps to obtain financing intended for that operation. "Specifically, he contacted a financial institution to arrange the establishment of a mortgage for an amount of 130,000 euros in Andrea's name. Within the framework of these steps, the evidence points to the fact that he would have resorted to Corvillo," the report states.
The facts are framed in a scenario in which Ábalos would have said "to have a lack of liquidity" and was looking for resources so that De la Torre could acquire a property.
Finally, on 19 April 2024, the woman "acquired two real properties for a total amount of 125,000 euros, specifically an industrial-use premises and a parking space located in the same building."
"The purchase of the Casa de Cerro del Murmullo was carried out without constituting a mortgage, with practically all of the payment being formalized by two bank cheques and a bank transfer," the agents emphasize.
From earlier dates, specifically December 2022, the UCO highlights a cross-exchange of messages between Aldama and Corvillo "from which it follows that the latter maintained direct communication with Ábalos, to whom he had offered a dog." "Cristian, now Andrea is dying for the dog. When would it be and where?", the former minister would have written to him.
Six detainees and searches linked to the case
On the previous 6 November, within a piece of the procedure that at that time remained secret, UCO agents carried out an operation together with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office in which Corvillo, his brother Rubén, De la Torre, and the businessmen Rafael Bascón, Jorge Pérez, and Santiago Barrera were arrested, allegedly linked to the companies of the investigated plot.
Corvillo was arrested on alleged crimes of trafficking in influence, bribery, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organization. In the search of his home in Córdoba, the Guardia Civil seized seven mobile phones, a computer, a tablet, several hard drives, and various documentation.
His brother Rubén was arrested for alleged money laundering offenses and belonging to a criminal organization, with two mobile phones seized from him.
Ábalos’s ex-partner was detained at a house belonging to the former minister in Valencia for an alleged money laundering offense. At that property, the agents obtained five mobile phones, two tablets, and four computers. No search was carried out at his home in Madrid “because it was rented out to third parties unrelated to or without any connection to the investigated facts.”
Pérez was also arrested, administrator of the Portuguese company, for alleged money laundering offenses and belonging to a criminal organization. The UCO seized from him two mobile phones, a computer, and a tablet, and in addition registered the headquarters of one of his companies in Seville and in the Córdoba town of Montilla, where they found documentation relating to the other Lusitanian company.
Barrera was likewise detained, investigated for alleged money laundering offenses and belonging to a criminal organization. According to the Guardia Civil, he would appear as administrator of two companies linked to Aldama together with Corvillo’s brother, with the aim of ensuring that the arranger did not appear “directly linked to the operations that those companies might carry out.”
The UCO also went to the headquarters of Adif and of the Sociedad Estatal de Infraestructuras del Transporte Terrestre (SEITT) to request documentation about various awards to different companies, as well as to these companies’ offices to gather additional information.