Spanish PM's former right-hand man to face graft trial
Summary
Spain's Supreme Court has ordered a former close associate of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to stand trial for corruption, involving kickbacks in public contracts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Key Points
- Spain's Supreme Court ordered Jose Luis Abalos, former transport minister and close associate of PM Pedro Sanchez, to stand trial for corruption.
- Abalos and ex-adviser Koldo Garcia are accused of bribery, influence peddling, embezzlement, and criminal organisation membership related to Covid-19 sanitary equipment contracts.
- Prosecutors demand 24 years imprisonment for Abalos and 19.5 years for Garcia; Abalos has been expelled from the Socialist party.
- The scandal has shaken the minority coalition government, with other Socialist figures and PM Sanchez's family members also under investigation.
