Overview

• The Criminal Chamber unanimously dismissed challenges from ex-minister José Luis Ábalos and adviser Koldo García, affirming Puente’s original order to probe highlighted public-works contracts
• The court declared its ruling final with no avenue for further appeals, rejecting assertions of an impermissible prospective investigation
• Puente instructed the Guardia Civil’s SECRIM unit to conduct a forensic analysis verifying that audio evidence used against Santos Cerdán and García remains unmanipulated
• García was granted access to the pertinent intercepted recordings while the judge held back 10 terabytes of seized documents until preliminary review is complete
• Puente formally warned Santos Cerdán that attempts to explore alleged Civil Guard infiltration by García are irrelevant and would only impede the investigation