The Minister of Territorial Policy Angel Victor Torres Not only was he aware of his government’s contracts with the Koldo plot, but he also imposed his authority to move them forward, even with the opinion of officials against. The Civil Guard report attached to the proceedings being followed in the National Court includes new messages exchanged in the early stages of the pandemic that demonstrate that Management Solutions enjoyed preferential treatment in the Canarian Administration.
The Civil Guard, which in 2022 already put under suspicion the legality of awards higher than the 12 million eurosnow confirms that they went ahead despite the fact that Torres’ team warned in writing about the poor quality of the masks or that they had received cheaper offers. So much so that the agents do not rule out that they appear “new clues” on this matter as the investigation progresses.
From the first messages analyzed, it is clear that the shipment of the first shipment of masks was completed even before the emergency awards were carried out, which were finalized on April 22. The dialogue was primarily between Koldo García and the Canary Islands government (both Torres and his “number two” in the Executive, Antonio Olivera). However, Aldama also had direct contact with the latter. According to the agents, he paid an average of 10,000 euros per month to Koldo to facilitate business in the Government and even to “have access to the minister.”
“We have bought cheaper masks”
“Early in the morning of April 22, both Iñigo Rotaeche (Management Solutions administrator) and Antonio Olivera took the sending of the masks for granted, despite the fact that those responsible for the processing were still clarifying the viability of the operation. Among other things, whether or not they were suitable for health use, since it is not until 09:33:41 when the email from the General Directorate of Assistance Programs is received giving the approval,” reads the police report to which LA RAZÓN has had access.
Despite the speed that was conveyed to them from above, the officials stepped on the brakes due to the lack of information from a company that was going to be awarded million-dollar contracts. “Good morning, after so much falsehood It’s even scary to evaluate a product just with the photo. and the little technical data they give. I know that CE marking is not necessary now but it would be good,” said a technician from the Canarian Health Service.
Another warned about the fact that they had approved the agreement, despite the fact that, in the past, they had “bought cheaper masks” and that these also came without a file. “Are we sure? There is enough money, it is 12 million euros…? We have bought cheaper masks (€1.89) should I go ahead and ask you for the order? (Sic),” they asked themselves.
“The masks do not meet the requirements”
The former director of the Canarian Health Service Ana María Pérez replied that they should continue with the operation. “Surely Did you realize where the proposal comes from (Sic)“, he explained. The UCO maintains in this regard that it could refer to the influence of the Ministry of Public Works and the Canarian Vice-Minister of the Presidency. However, the reproaches continued, since they were not sure that an autonomous community could make such a large disbursement without first going through the Executive, from where the pandemic purchases were centralized.
However, the problems were not only detected before formalizing the order. Officials also warned of alleged irregularities when executing the payment. Two queries were made from the General Directorate of Economic Resources when they were asked to create an order with the proforma invoice for the first order of masks.“Okay, but why did we go out of the loop. Isn’t it more logical to control who is going to pay for it?” says one of the emails analyzed by the researchers.
Likewise, they stopped the payments when they detected that some items were false. “Hello Daniel. The Risk Prevention Service of one of our hospitals is analyzing whether the material delivered, which corresponds to various types of masks, meets the conditions required to be considered FFP2. According to the first reports Not all meet these requirements, and as long as the analysis is completed we have paralyzed the payments,” the regional government transferred to the then administrator of Management Solutions, Daniel Sierra.
Torres: “I’m going to shit on all the saints with the person responsible for the economy”
Despite all these warnings, the plot continued with its plan. What’s more, the messages between the leaders of the network and the leadership of the Canary Islands government continued during the negotiations and intensified when the payments were stopped. Koldo channeled the complaints of Aldama’s partners and transferred them first to the Canarian vice president and then directly to Torres.
“Please fix it, these guys are driving me crazy. I swear I will thank you in the flesh. And I will love you very much (Sic),” he told the first of them. Already in June 2020 he wrote directly to the then Canary Islands president. “Don’t worry, we will solve it for you,” the vice president of the Canary Islands executive told him. However, Koldo, upon seeing that the problem persisted, went directly to the Canary Islands president.
“When you can, please call me, thank you, I’m very sorry to bother you, but It is for the payment issue“, he wrote to him on July 13, to which the minister responded: “Hello, you called me yesterday at the meeting with unions. I have been on top of the bill and today I will give you all the information. Tomorrow I’ll see you in Madrid,” Torres told him.. When asked by Koldo what the problem was that prevented the bill from being paid, he responded that it was due to the reviews of the officials, who were limited to doing their job. “And subject of verification. Not only to your request: to everyone. But let me today that I’m going to shit on all the saints with the person responsible for the economy. And either she solves it or I lift her up in the air“said Torres.