The Ministry of Transport purchased five million masks from the company Soluciones de Gestión in March 2020, despite their offer being worse and more expensive than another company, Injo Technology. This purchase was part of two contracts audited by the current Minister Óscar Puente regarding the worst moment of the COVID-19 pandemic when the department was led by José Luis Ábalos. The audit, presented by Puente in the Senate, examined the two contracts for the purchase of masks, one through Puertos del Estado and another through Adif. The audit found several irregularities in both contracts, with the Adif contract standing out for being awarded to the worst of the two offers and without justifying the emergency scope.
The audit revealed that the emergency scope for the contract with Adif was established almost a month after the decision to proceed with emergency processing had been made. Despite the lack of justification for the urgency of the contract, there were no reported issues with the distribution of the masks reaching their intended recipients. However, in the case of the first package of eight million masks, there was a lack of control over half of the masks, with no records of some entities, such as autonomous communities or railway companies, receiving them. Additionally, the ministry still has a significant number of masks from the first batch in storage, totaling 238,840 masks, with an estimated value of 1.1 million euros.
Minister Puente ordered the audit in late February to shed light on the details surrounding the contracts made with public funds following the scandal involving the Koldo case. The scandal prompted the PSOE to request Ábalos to resign from his position as a member of parliament due to his negligence in overseeing his former advisor, Koldo García. Despite the pressure, Ábalos chose to retain his seat and join the Mixed Group. The audit and investigation surrounding the contracts demonstrate the lack of transparency and questionable decision-making processes that occurred during the procurement of masks for the ministry.
The irregularities in the contracts and the decision-making process raise concerns about the accountability and transparency of the Ministry of Transport under the leadership of José Luis Ábalos during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The revelation of discrepancies in the procurement of essential medical supplies, such as masks, highlights the need for greater oversight and adherence to proper procedures in government contracts. The failure to adequately justify the emergency scope of the contracts and the lack of control over the distribution of masks point to systemic issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In light of the findings of the audit, Minister Puente has taken steps to address the shortcomings in the procurement process and ensure greater transparency and accountability in the future. The ongoing investigation into the Koldo case and the management of public funds by the Ministry of Transport underscores the importance of upholding ethical standards and ensuring that taxpayer money is used responsibly and effectively. The repercussions of the scandal and its implications for the Ministry of Transport serve as a cautionary tale for government officials and highlight the need for stringent oversight and compliance with regulations in all government contracts and procurement processes.
