Spain’s Supreme Court has given former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, his former adviser Koldo García and businessman Víctor de Aldama 15 days to meet financial obligations totalling €644,498.54 following their convictions in the face mask procurement corruption case, known as the Caso Mascarillas.
The order, issued by the Supreme Court's Criminal Chamber on 27 October 2026 and made public on 4 November, marks the beginning of the enforcement phase of the judgment. The financial obligations include individual criminal fines, the confiscation of proceeds linked to bribery offences and compensation to two state-owned companies, Ineco and Tragsatec.
How Much Must Each Defendant Pay?
The Supreme Court has specified individual fines of €52,500 for José Luis Ábalos, €45,750 for Koldo García and €72,000 for Víctor de Aldama.
In addition to these penalties, the three defendants are jointly responsible for the confiscation of €430,298, which the court identified as financial benefits obtained through bribery offences.
The court has also ordered Ábalos and García to compensate two public companies:
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Ineco: €34,450.
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Tragsatec: €9,500.54.
The compensation relates to the employment of Jéssica Rodríguez, Ábalos's former partner, by the two companies. According to the facts established in the judgment, she received remuneration without carrying out the corresponding work.
Taken together, the fines, confiscation and compensation amount to €644,498.54.
€430,298 in Proceeds Linked to Bribery Offences
The largest financial component is the €430,298 that the Supreme Court has ordered to be confiscated.
The amount includes €340,000 in payments made by Aldama, calculated at €10,000 per month over 34 months. It also includes €82,295 relating to the rental of a property in Plaza de España, Madrid, and €8,000 connected to a villa in Marbella.
According to the court's findings, the three convicted individuals benefited from these financial arrangements, with Aldama responsible for distributing the money among the group.
The Supreme Court has established joint and several liability for this amount. This means the full outstanding sum can be recovered from any of the three defendants until the total has been paid, rather than requiring each individual to pay the entire amount separately.
The management and recovery of outstanding confiscated assets have been entrusted to Spain's Office for the Recovery and Management of Assets (ORGA).
What Happens If They Fail to Pay Within 15 Days?
The Supreme Court has warned that failure to pay the fines and compensation within the specified 15-day period will lead to enforcement proceedings through the legal mechanism known as vía de apremio, allowing the authorities to pursue compulsory recovery.
The confiscated proceeds will be handled through the ORGA as part of the enforcement process.
The court has also provided for the possibility of applications concerning the postponement or instalment payment of financial obligations under the applicable procedural rules.
Ábalos and Koldo García Face Prison Sentence Enforcement
The same judicial order also addresses the enforcement of the prison sentences imposed on Ábalos and Koldo García.
The Supreme Court has ordered the preparation of their respective sentence calculations, taking into account the maximum effective prison terms established in the judgment.
The maximum periods of imprisonment are 16 years and six months for Ábalos and 15 years for García.
Both men have been held at Soto del Real prison in Madrid since November 2025 and are now serving their convictions.
Aldama Must Comply With Conditions to Keep His Prison Sentence Suspended
Víctor de Aldama is in a different legal position from the former minister and his adviser.
His four-and-a-half-year prison sentence has been suspended for five years, following the court's consideration of his cooperation with the investigation and the application of a highly qualified mitigating circumstance analogous to confession.
However, the suspension comes with specific conditions.
Aldama must not commit further offences during the suspension period and must appear before the Supreme Court every six months to report on his professional, commercial and business activities.
He must also undertake one year of community service.
The latest order gives him 15 days, calculated from notification to his legal representatives, to appear before the court and personally confirm his consent to carrying out the community service.
His defence had previously submitted written acceptance of this requirement.
The Supreme Court's latest decision therefore moves the Caso Mascarillas into a new phase, focusing on the enforcement of the convictions, the recovery of financial proceeds and compliance with the conditions imposed on the three defendants.