The businessman Javier Hidalgo, shareholder of Globalia, is currently in the spotlight regarding the rescue of the company Air Europa during the pandemic. Although Hidalgo appeared as a witness in the National Court last September for the Koldo case, the Senate has had difficulties locating him on two occasions to appear before the investigative committee on the same case.
The Popular Party, the majority in the Upper Chamber, has accused the Ministry of the Interior of failing to notify Hidalgo of the summons and has requested government cooperation to locate the businessman. The Senate committee approved in October to summon Hidalgo to appear on November 7, which was not possible. Due to the lack of cooperation from the government, the PP has again summoned Hidalgo for November 29 through an announcement published in the BOE.
If Hidalgo does not appear at this third summons, he would be committing a crime of disobedience according to Article 502 of the Penal Code. The Koldo case revealed alleged irregularities in public contracts during the pandemic, especially in the transfer of 475 million euros to the airline. Hidalgo's circle claims that he is available and willing to appear when properly notified.
The businessman’s disobedience to the summons published in the BOE would be sanctioned as a criminal offense of disobedience, according to PP sources. The Civil Guard has concluded that the relationship of the commissioner Víctor de Aldama with figures such as former minister José Luis Ábalos and his advisor Koldo García was fundamental in the rescue of Air Europa.
