Ábalos's first lawyer testifies today before Pedraz for payments linked to the 'Leire case'

José Aníbal Álvarez, the first lawyer who defended José Luis Ábalos after his indictment in the 'Koldo case', testifies this Monday as a witness before Judge Santiago Pedraz, within the framework of the investigation known as 'Leire case'. His name has been at the center of a dispute for months that pits Ábalos himself, from prison, against his former lawyer and the PSOE leadership.

The summons comes after the Central Operative Unit (UCO) placed the lawyer in one of the reports incorporated into the procedure. According to investigators, Díez would have intervened to try to get the PSOE to assume the payment of the fees of several lawyers related to the 'Koldo case', including those of Álvarez and those of lawyer Ismael Oliver, who for a time represented Koldo García. 

According to the documentation sent to the judge, the Civil Guard maintains that, in the case of José Aníbal Álvarez, "the agreed deadlines and channels for payment would not have been met, requiring Leire to intermediate for this." The investigators also add that, finally, the lawyer abandoned Ábalos's defense due to an alleged breach in the payment of his fees.

Interrogation round continues

This Monday's statement is part of the series of proceedings promoted by Pedraz to reconstruct the operation of the alleged plot under investigation. In the coming days, other protagonists of the procedure are expected to appear, including Leticia de la Hoz, Koldo García's lawyer, who will testify as an investigated party, as well as several officials linked to the Civil Guard and the State Attorney General's Office. The judge is investigating Leticia for an alleged attempt to influence the testimony of businesswoman Carmen Pano, after, according to the investigation, she had offered her different economic considerations so that she would not ratify before Justice her statements about the alleged delivery of 90,000 euros at the PSOE headquarters, on Ferraz street.

After that appearance, the magistrate has summoned several investigated parties for Thursday, including the director general of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, and the operational deputy director of the corps, Manuel Llamas, in a key week for the progress of the investigation of the so-called 'Leire case'.