Former Spanish Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos said his Supreme Court trial was political and predetermined in an audio message released Thursday [1].

The statements mark a significant escalation in the legal battle over the "mask case," suggesting a deep rift between the former official and the judiciary. Ábalos is currently incarcerated at the Prisión de Soto del Real in Madrid [2].

In the 12-minute recording [3], Ábalos said he was disappointed with the verdict and described the sentence as excessive [1]. He is serving a 24-year sentence related to the mask case [1]. The former minister said he plans to request the nullity of the sentence [2].

Ábalos targeted the proceedings of the Supreme Court, alleging that the outcome was decided before the trial concluded. He specifically mentioned the presence of Mr. Aldama, stating that if Aldama had attended from home, the court would have avoided a physical and psychological torture [1].

Beyond the courtroom, Ábalos directed criticism toward his own political circle. He noted a discrepancy in how the Socialist Party (PSOE) handled different scandals. "With me, the PSOE with a thick brush, but with Zapatero, the sewer and the brother of Sánchez, a fine line," Ábalos said [2].

The former minister's remarks suggest a belief that he has been singled out for harsher treatment than other political figures associated with the party. He said the legal process was not an impartial search for truth, but a political maneuver [1].

“He recibido decepcionado la sentencia”

The allegations by Ábalos highlight the ongoing tension between the Spanish judiciary and high-ranking political figures. By claiming the trial was predetermined and criticizing the PSOE's internal consistency, Ábalos is attempting to frame his 24-year sentence not as a legal consequence of corruption, but as a political sacrifice. This could potentially fuel further polarization regarding the independence of the Supreme Court in Spain.