The Spanish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has formally requested the National Court to investigate Isabel Pardo de Vera, the former president of ADIF, in connection with the hiring of Jesica Rodríguez.

This development comes as the Prosecutor's Office supports the findings of Supreme Court Judge Leopoldo Puente, who directed this aspect of the Koldo case to the National Court for further inquiry.

According to prosecutors, there are substantial indications warranting a summons for Pardo de Vera to clarify alleged irregularities surrounding Rodríguez's employment as a result of connections to former Minister of Public Works, José Luis Ábalos.

The Koldo case, which has sparked a significant political and judicial controversy, was initially processed in the National Court, with a parallel investigation ongoing in the Supreme Court due to the privileged status of the former minister.

The inquiry focuses on Rodríguez's hiring at Ineco, a public company, and subsequently at Tragsatec.

During her testimony in February, Rodríguez implicated Ábalos regarding these contracts, claiming that she never actually performed work during her time on the payroll of either organization.

Investigators revealed that communications seized during the investigation suggest Rodríguez, with assistance from Koldo García, an adviser to Ábalos, fabricated hours worked to create a false impression of employment.

When questioned as a witness, Pardo de Vera distanced herself from the case.

However, the investigation into seized messages indicated her involvement in facilitating Rodríguez's hiring, specifically in relation to her contract at Tragsatec, which was linked to the presidency of ADIF.

The hiring criteria for this position were allegedly tailored to Rodríguez’s qualifications, despite her having misrepresented her work experience at Ineco, where she reportedly did not engage in any actual employment activities.

Judge Puente noted a considerable amount of evidence suggesting Pardo de Vera’s significant role in what appears to be an irregular and arbitrary hiring process conducted by public companies in favor of an individual closely connected to Ábalos.

The inquiry is directed at both Ineco, which operates under the Ministry of Transport, and Tragsatec, overseen by the State Society for Industrial Participations (SEPI) under the Ministry of Agriculture, following Rodríguez's testimony.

The court is collecting all relevant information related to these contracts and the associated selection processes, given Rodríguez’s statements in court indicating non-participation in work duties and a scheme to maintain appearances regarding her employment status.

Additionally, evidence from internal communications has raised questions about Pardo de Vera's claims of ignorance regarding the employment situation.

For instance, an email dated March 22, 2021, revealed that Rodríguez, after her tenure at Ineco, reached out to Tragsatec staff concerning her computer setup, which indicated prearrangement for her transition to the new role.

On April 21 of the same year, senior officials at Tragsatec acknowledged in correspondence that Pardo de Vera was aware of the developments surrounding Rodríguez’s employment, contradicting her prior denials.

Messages exchanged between Pardo de Vera and García further illustrate her knowledge of and involvement in the hiring process, with García communicating directly about the urgency of initiating formal employment procedures for Rodríguez, allegedly to appease Minister Ábalos.

Pardo de Vera's direct involvement appears to have been significant, as indicated by García’s messaging, which revealed a proactive approach in orchestrating the hiring process to comply with the minister's demands.