Malaya corruption case concludes

Alleged mastermind Juan Antonio Roca

The Malaya corruption case – the longest case ever seen in Spain – has concluded.

The case lasted 22 months, across 199 sessions, involved 86 politicians, a mountain of evidence from both sides, evidence from business people and Marbella citizens and could result in a 30 year prison sentence for the alleged mastermind of the corruption, Juan Antonion Roca.

We now have to wait up to eight months for the verdicts to be delivered – eight months? Haven’t they had long enough to make up their minds already? I wonder how much it has cost too!

As part of his final defence Roca appealed to the jury to reflect upon why a child murderer from Huelva received a 22 year sentence yet he could face a sentence eight years longer for “financial crimes”.

He also suggested that it was not possible for him to receive a fair trial as his name had been dragged through the mud constantly since the case began. He expressed deep regret for “the damage that has been done to Marbella and its citizens.”

During the final session a number of the defendants stated criticised the judge for his handling of the case, while others wept and pleaded for a fair sentence.

The case surrounds allegations that the town hall received “back-handers” to the tune of €33 million in exchange for granting property licences on non-urban land. Sessions began back in September 2010, when the tribunal president promised “absolute independence and impartiality”.

The case began with 95 suspects but nine people have since been cleared of all charges.

Roca’s lawyer calls case to be dropped

At the center of the case – Juan Antonio Roca

As Spain’s long running Malaya corruption case continues the legal team representing the man at the center of the case, former municipal real estate assessor Juan Antonio Roca, have called on the judge to drop the case.

Roca’s legal team claim that there had been a parallel case due to the television coverage the case received. They also said that archives from Maras Asesores should not be admitted as evidence. Of course they would say that because they showed the secret accounting of Roca and form the basis of the prosecutions evidence against Roca.

The prosecutor in the case, Juan Carlos López Caballero, has demanded an “exemplary” sentence to send a clear message that this behaviour will not be accepted.

“We cannot allow this behaviour to be repeated”, he said

“This was the first time in Spain, since democracy, that a Town Hall has had to be dissolved for the repeated abuse of legality and the state of law,” he added.

The Malaya case opened in September 2010 to investigate corruption in Marbella Town Hall. The prosecution presented their final report on Monday at the close of the 181^st session of the case.

Malaya corruption case continues

The tears flowed in court

The Malaya Corruption case is continuing this week accusing three businessmen of paying bribes to Juan Antonio Roca for the granting of licences.

Yesterday, Cordoba based developer Rafael Gomez (pic) concluded his statement while managing to remain calm in the dock. Last week he twice broke down in tears whilst being questioned.

He insisted that he did not pay any bribes to Roca and painted himself as a victim saying the Malaya case had affected him “more than most as I am a public person” adding that the case had caused him enormous damage.

“I have been accused in the media of being corrupt eight to ten thousand times”, he said.

Gomez is charged with making two payments to Roca in 2004 totalling 600,500€ for the renovation of the headquarters of Arenal 2000, in Marbella, and to open a local access from the promenade.

The prosecution are asking for an 18 month custodial sentence and a fine of 1.2 million euros.

Yesterday, Gomez once again denied the charges and even said that he was not worried by paperwork, it was a minor issue, and that his company had “many important projects and obligations” adding that there were people employed to arrange licences and it was not his responsibility.

Another defendant, Aifos boss Jesus Ruiz Casado, categorically denied that he or his company had paid money to Roca to secure licenses but later changed his mind. He then confirmed that he had indeed made payments to the former planning boss.

The trial continues.