Businessmen deny illegal mask contract commissions in Spain

Businessmen Juan Carlos Cueto and Íñigo Rotaeche have appeared voluntarily before the Audiencia Nacional to testify as investigated parties in the “Koldo case” regarding pandemic-era mask contracts.

Both individuals, linked to commission agent Víctor de Aldama, denied any knowledge of or participation in the payment of €6.6 million in illegal commissions. They maintained that their involvement with the company Soluciones de Gestión was limited to accepting a business proposal from Aldama to supply masks to state entities such as Puertos del Estado and Adif.

During questioning, Cueto addressed discrepancies regarding a service agreement date, claiming a recorded date of March 16, 2020, was an error and should have been March 19. This defense aims to counter allegations that the agreement preceded the ministerial order for the mask purchases. These proceedings follow a Supreme Court ruling that confirmed Aldama received millions in commissions in exchange for securing these public contracts.