Koldo Case: Balearic Islands Linked to No-Bid PCR Contracts

A report by Spain’s Guardia Civil’s Central Operational Unit (UCO) has revealed that a network linked to businessman Víctor de Aldama secured a “a dedo” (direct award) contract with the Balearic Islands government in May 2020 for antigen tests, marking the beginning of alleged irregular pandemic-related procurement under the administration of then-President Francina Armengol.

The UCO report, delivered to Judge Ismael Moreno of the National Court on April 15, 2026, details how Aldama’s associates obtained contracts through Eurofins-Megalab for coronavirus testing supplies, resulting in expenditures totaling 1,112,640 euros between 2021 and 2022. The investigation centers on whether these contracts were awarded directly to companies under the control of individuals under investigation in the broader ‘Koldo case’.

The report includes a May 2020 message from Javier Serrano, a partner of Víctor de Aldama, stating: “Primer concurso a dedo que nos hacen” (“First direct award contract they’ve given us”), referring to the antigen test contract secured with the Balearic government. This communication confirms the network’s awareness of obtaining preferential treatment in public procurement during the pandemic.

According to the UCO findings, the relationship between the Aldama network and the Balearic executive began formally on April 25, 2020, when Koldo García, former advisor to Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, sent Armengol his first WhatsApp message. In it, García identified himself as working alongside Ábalos and offered immediate assistance when Armengol inquired the next day about suppliers of infant face masks, responding with “te lo arreglo” (“I’ll fix it for you”).

The investigation reveals that by June 15, 2020, Armengol sought García’s help to contact Minister Ábalos directly regarding PCR testing for passengers traveling to the Balearic archipelago. García confirmed the successful mediation later that day with the message: “Tarde, pero lo tienes” (“Late, but you have it”).

Communications between García and Armengol remained frequent through July 2020, including arrangements for videoconferences on airline and rail matters. In September 2020, Armengol again contacted García to discuss the distribution of European funds and investments in the region. The UCO report notes that on August 17, 2020, Armengol provided García with the official phone number of Patricia Gómez, the Balearic Health Minister, to whom García responded informally: “Vale cariño te mantengo informada de todo” (“Okay honey, I’ll keep you informed of everything”).

These exchanges established a direct and privileged communication channel between the alleged corruption network and the Balearic government’s decision-making bodies during the health crisis. The UCO specifies that the investigation examines public contracts formalized by the Balearic administration for the purchase of medical masks and Covid-19 detection materials, involving both Soluciones de Gestión and Eurofins-Megalab—companies linked to Aldama.

The ‘Koldo case’, which originated from suspicions over pandemic-related mask contracts awarded by the Ministry of Transport, has expanded to include scrutiny of regional governments. While the main case against Ábalos is being tried before the Supreme Court due to his parliamentary immunity, the Balearic Islands branch of the investigation is being handled by the National Court, focusing on alleged irregularities in procurement processes during Armengol’s presidency (2019–2023).