The investigating judge of Koldo affair imposed a bail of 88,119 euros on Rubén Villalba, the civil guard of the plot led by the businessman Víctor de Aldama, for the money he allegedly received to secure communications between members of the organization with ultra-secure and impossible-to-tap cell phones. Magistrate Ismael Moreno also blocks 14 bank accounts of him and his associate – also investigated in this case – as confirmed by an order consulted by OKDIARIO.
“It is agreed to require Rubén Villalba instructed that, within five working days, he guarantees in cash to be deposited in the deposit and consignment account of this Court, either by means of a joint guarantee of a indefinite duration and payable on first demand issued by a credit or mutual guarantee entity or by any other means which, in the opinion of this Court, guarantees. the immediate availability of the amount of 88,119 euros”, signed by the judge of the National Court.
If after the indicated period the deposit is not recorded, orders will be given to three banks so that they proceed “at blocking and embargo balances and interest that are linked to each of them.
The magistrate makes this decision according to the criteria of the prosecution, who acted at the request of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard. As detailed in the order, preliminary analysis of Villalba’s accounts reveals “cash receipts of unknown origin» for a total of 145,049 euros. Between 2021 and 2023, the commander would have received payments from Víctor de Aldama, the alleged intermediary of the plot, which represent 60.75% of the said sum, or 88,119 euros.
The judge states that these police indications suggest that Villalba could be part of a network aimed at obtaining illicit advantages through the award of public contracts masks during the pandemic. In the files, there was mention of cash payments to a person identified as ‘R’ or ‘Ruben’who was later identified as Rubén Villalba. In some documents it is confirmed that Villalba would have received monthly payments of 2,000 euros by Victor de Aldama.
To guarantee the amount indicated, Moreno decides that, if the deposit is not made, his accounts and any financial transaction relating to them will be blocked, including deposits, securities, shares and other assets. Additionally, the judge indicated that the income that comes into their accounts would also be seized if the required amount is not deposited.
This case is investigating about twenty people for possible crimes of criminal organization, money laundering, corruption, influence peddling and crimes against the Public Treasury, in relation to emergency contracts managed by the State and the public sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anti-corruption petitions
On the other hand, in another recent writing, the anti-corruption prosecutor in charge of the case, Luis Pastor, specifically requested “that Rubén Villalba be asked to which guarantees the amount of 88,119 euros within 15 days and, failing that, the orders to banking entities requested in the police report will be executed.
Furthermore, he states that he sees the need for “the declaration as investigators of Ignacio Díaz Tapia, Luis Alberto Escolano, Cesar Moreno García, Javier Serrano Costumero and María Piedad Losada Romo.” That is to say the group of the four musketeers, four businessmen who collaborated with Aldama and his secretary. Likewise, the prosecutor requests “the statement as witnesses” of eight police officers who appear with their identity protected in the police reports of the Central Operational Unit of Benemérita (UCO).
