The widening Koldo corruption probe has now turned its spotlight on Almeria.
It comes after a High Court judge ordered the urgent handover of key documents linked to major public works, including a crucial stretch of the long-delayed high-speed rail line.
Judge Ismael Moreno, from the National Court, has instructed the Public Works Council to deliver 10 contract files tied to Adif and the Directorate-General for Roads, as investigators dig deeper into how major infrastructure projects were awarded.
AVE project pulled into investigation
Among the contracts under scrutiny is the Pulpi-Vera section of the Murcia-Almeria AVE line – one of the most significant transport projects currently underway in the province.
While the investigation is national in scope, the inclusion of this stretch places Almeria firmly within the frame of a case that continues to expand in both scale and political sensitivity.
The judge’s move follows a request from prosecutors seeking access to the technical reports behind the contract awards, including details of which officials were involved in drafting them.
At the core of the probe is a simple but critical question: how were these contracts decided and were they influenced improperly?
Investigators are examining whether there was any manipulation, preferential treatment or irregularities in the awarding process.
Ten projects under review across Spain
In total, five Adif contracts and five road infrastructure projects are now under review, spanning multiple regions including Murcia, Catalonia, Galicia, Asturias, La Rioja and Andalucia.
The works range from railway developments and undergrounding projects to motorway upgrades and bridge construction – with the Almeria AVE section among the most high-profile.
Another step in a growing case
The documentation request marks a significant step forward in the Koldo investigation, which has steadily widened from its initial scope into a broader examination of public contracting.
The Public Works Council must now hand over the files in a move that could prove decisive in determining whether criminal responsibility exists.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
