Politics · Spain · 6 hrs ago
Six detained in new operation linked to Spain’s Koldo case
Spain’s Guardia Civil detained six people in a new operation linked to the Koldo case, and all were later released.
The arrests took place in several provinces, and agents searched the home of former minister José Luis Ábalos and sought information from rail infrastructure company Adif.
The inquiry concerns alleged kickbacks in public works contracts and is being handled in a separate, sealed branch of the case.
Pedro Sánchez denied any connection to the detainees and said he would fully cooperate with the courts.
The government says businessman and Socialist Party member Cristian Corvillo was never Sánchez’s driver, although Vox leader Santiago Abascal accused Sánchez of being tied to corruption around him.
The investigation is continuing under court secrecy, with the government saying it does not yet have all the information.
The Civil Guard arrested six people in a new operation linked to a separate part of Spain’s Koldo case, and all were later released.
The operation took place in Madrid, Córdoba, Valencia and Seville and included a search at former minister José Luis Ábalos’s home in Valencia.
The investigation concerns alleged kickbacks in public-works contracts and was opened by a National Court judge after receiving a new report from the Civil Guard’s UCO unit.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denied having links to the detainees and promised full cooperation with the courts.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal accused Sánchez’s circle of corruption, while the government said it did not yet have all the information because the inquiry is secret.
- Who
- The Civil Guard’s UCO unit carried out the operation. Six people were detained, including businessman Cristian Corvillo and Andrea de la Torre, Ábalos’s partner.
- What
- Six people were detained in an operation linked to a new, separate part of the Koldo case. All were later released.
- When
- Thursday, November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Madrid, Córdoba, Valencia and Seville. Agents also searched Ábalos’s home in Valencia.
- Why
- The inquiry concerns alleged kickbacks in public-works contracts.
Pedro Sánchez and the government
Santiago Abascal and Vox
Links to detainees
Pedro Sánchez and the government
Sánchez denied any connection to the detainees; the government said Corvillo was never his chauffeur and that Sánchez did not know him.
Santiago Abascal and Vox
Abascal said people around Sánchez were already jailed or under investigation and accused the president’s circle of corruption.
Political responsibility
Pedro Sánchez and the government
Sánchez said the case had been under investigation for years and promised full cooperation with the courts.
Santiago Abascal and Vox
Abascal said Sánchez should resign and face the consequences of the crises affecting his government.
National Court judge Ismael Moreno opened a secret, separate part of the Koldo case.
Civil Guard agents carried out searches and detained six people in four provinces; all were later released.
Sánchez denied links to the detainees at a news conference after the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid.
Abascal criticised Sánchez at an election rally in Teruel.
- Detainees
- 6; all later released
- Provinces
- Madrid, Córdoba, Valencia and Seville
- Named detainees
- Cristian Corvillo and Andrea de la Torre
- Investigation
- Alleged kickbacks in public-works contracts
- Search
- Ábalos’s home in Valencia
5 sources
El 'chófer' de Sánchez detenido por la UCO canalizaba las mordidas en contratos de Adif
Abascal carga contra Sánchez tras las detenciones del caso Koldo: “está pringado hasta el chófer”
Sánchez niega cualquier vínculo con los detenidos por la UCO en el caso Koldo: "Esas personas no tienen que ver conmigo"
What people are saying
Ninguna de esas personas tienen que ver conmigo
total colaboración con la Justicia
está pringado hasta el chófer
Qué casualidad que siempre que el PSOE saca cabeza o hace un gesto como la dimisión de Óscar Puente, que tiene razonablemente una proyección, aparezca alguien que quiere hundir otra vez al PSOE