[Anonymous]

It goes without saying that it’s been a very sad week for a couple in Vera who innocently thought they had purchased a legal property. They have become victims of a corrupt group of people who put their own greed before anything else, especially before consequences that could befall others as a result.

Always one for trying to help maintain balance on the forum (as Just Frank well knows 😉 ), I thought there may be a few of you out there interested to see the flip-side of all this corruption, because when there are losers, there are always winners.

I present one of them to you – the ex-mayor of Totana (Murcia) – Sr. Juan Morales.

This gentleman is a WINNER. Oh yes, because in a period of three years while in office as mayor he was able to purchase five properties and three top of the range cars. Now that’s not bad – you talk about winners and losers in the Spanish property market, but it’s obvious which group dear ol’ Juan belongs to.

It gets better – our ‘winner’ Juan has escaped arrest and being called as a suspect by the Totana court which is heading an investigation, owing to his immunity as a member of the regional parliament.
So is that where poor Juan Antonio Roca went wrong and ended in prison awaiting yet another trial? He forgot to become a regional MP. 💡
Not to worry that Juan Morales has not set foot in the Murcia parliament for more than a month, he has his parliamentary status….so he’s still out there enjoying life, with wife plus Brazilian girlfriend.

The case that initiated an investigation into his activities was an alleged deal to reclassify rustic land to allow a project for 5,000 new homes to go ahead. Now imagine the backhander for that little lot, and I bet he wasn’t worried about the possible consequences for future purchasers if the doo-doos hit the fan as with the couple in Vera. He has his Parliamentary immunity. At least the owner of the Galician company which planned to build the development is one of 14 suspects who have been taken into custody, with reports in the press of an alleged backhander to have been paid to Juan Morales

A winner in Spain’s property market? Most definitely, like many other mayors and officials across the country who abused their position at the sacrifice of not only the landscape of their beautiful country, but also at the sacrifice of tens of thousands of people caught up in these illegal builds, causing untold misery and for many – financial ruin.

Let these people be brought to account, regardless of their so-called immunity – because not to do so is not only unjust, it is a disgrace.

[Anonymous]

Charlie 😉

The ba–ard just how do some sleep at nights. 😈 👿

Frank 8)

[Anonymous]

How do they sleep at night Frank?
In his case, if with the Brazilian girlfriend…..probably not much at all.

Antonio Vercher, the chief state prosecutor, suggests homeowners seek compensation from builders in the civil courts.
Interesting he doesn’t suggest they seek compensation in the civil courts from their own mayors because afterall, it is they who took the bribes from the builders.
Aren’t they and the other Town Hall ‘conspirators’ just as guilty as the builders or am I missing something?

I wonder what a backhander is worth for a ‘nod & wink’ on 5000 properties.

[Anonymous]

charlie

good to see you bringing balance!. As you say there are winners, and Sr Juan for instance, what balance he’s shown!. Not content with enduring sleepless nights with his Brazilian girlfriend, but in a show of balance he’s probably f***ed thousands of other people as well!

Well done for highlighting this. As you say a true disgrace, when genuine people who have been lied and cheated to, still have to endure years of fighting in courts with little hope, just to stand a chance of justice.

[Anonymous]

@goodstich44 wrote:

Not content with enduring sleepless nights with his Brazilian girlfriend, but in a show of balance he’s probably f***ed thousands of other people as well!

Ah Goodstich, you describe it so perfectly!

There are many of us who know the drama of going through the courts in Spain, and it really is beginning to get to me how all these crooks at the ‘top of the pyramid’ seem to be getting away with it. There’s much talk about the corrupt developers, lawyers, agents etc., but without this bunch at the top and their complicity – most if not all of this corruption would never have happened.

To me it seems there is an apparent impotence of the British Government and the EU in being able to actually do anything in a practical sense. Yes, I know – a lot of letters, protests and recommendations have been made but it’s simply falling on deaf ears. The EU and the Land Grab situation is a prime example – 3 investigations and recommendations and not one iota of ‘progress’ in how many years?????

I would be interested to hear from any of our forum lawyers if they think it is time we looked at the civil court route – the men behind these development companies, the men behind these agencies, and especially these mayors who happily lined their pockets and lifestyle.
At the moment they are the winners in all of this – would love to see that change.

[Anonymous]

charlie

quite agree. The hoops we go through in the UK to adhere to euro regulations……, then as soon as we need help from those who can, it’s the same old line spun ……”we can’t get involved in another countries system”. What a load of tosh, they do when it’s in their interest! As i see it, intervention from another country is the only chance to force Spain to put it’s house in order. Despite the hideous mess it’s now in, many arsoles at the so-called top end of Spains system have no doubt done very nicely thankyou. Why would they rock the boat?. Utter disgrace.

[Anonymous]

One MEP in a recent reply to a letter asking for help suggested we wrote to the King of Spain. 🙄
Don’t you just love it – and why doesn’t he?????

[Anonymous]

An example of how the EU can intervene in our lives though 🙁
Just wish they’d do something more useful.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=508252&in_page_id=1770

[Anonymous]

Charlie, do you remember we were told that it would be of no use bringing action against a Town Hall and it’s corrupt members. Most of the councils are broke! IMHO,I cannot see anyone having a cats chance in hell suing individual members of the Town Halls.

[Anonymous]

Hi Claire
Marbella Town Hall is broke, but Roca certainly isn’t. 😉
This is my point. Go for the person, not where they work. Is it possible?

How many developers will claim bankruptcy in the coming year, but personally they all have their multi-million euro villas, Mercedes, Swiss bank accounts etc.?

A group civil action by purchasers from a development that’s turned out to be illegal against the directors themselves?
I just don’t know if it’s possible but they would deserve it as against hiding behind the company name and continuing to enjoy the good life.

[Anonymous]

@charlie wrote:

One MEP in a recent reply to a letter asking for help suggested we wrote to the King of Spain. 🙄
Don’t you just love it – and why doesn’t he?????

The reply will be, Why don’t you shut up….!!!

[Anonymous]

ian
……..i hope the reply wouldn’t be that pathetic. More along the lines of ‘it’s not our business’ or an equally useless answer i would think!!

[Anonymous]

@goodstich44 wrote:

ian
……..i hope the reply wouldn’t be that pathetic. More along the lines of ‘it’s not our business’ or an equally useless answer i would think!!

I was being ironic following his words of wisdom to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez 🙂

[Anonymous]

ian

sorry, hadn’t heard that discussion.

[Anonymous]

You can read it here Goodstitch.

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_13530.shtml

[Anonymous]

claire

thanks for that. Good for the King then, it sounds like his outburst was justified? Perphaps he would listen to reason on the current plight if approached by the right people, but would it change anything?

[Anonymous]

Yesterday, ex Marbella Mayor Julián Muñoz received a fine instead of prison in his latest planning case. A one year prison sentence was reduced to a fine of 10,800 €.
Not a bad deal I would say, am sure he can find the money somewhere (under his mattress in a brown envelope?).

This was in a case relating to a building licence granted for land classified as not suitable for development.
The fine instead of prison was apparently to ‘speed up the process of all pending planning hearings’.

Both parties are ‘winners’ here:
Muñoz swops a year of losing his freedom for just 10,800 €.
The authorities get the fine to add to their coffers plus saves a bundle in not having to keep him locked up at his Majesty’s pleasure for a year.
Winners all round I would say, and looks like this is how many of his hearings are now going to go, all in the name of ‘speeding up the process’.

[Anonymous]

What a shame more people can’t join in on this new process ‘to speed up pending hearings’ considering how many there are.
Let the lawyers of purchasers of illegal properties have a little chat with the judge to simply get their money back. Would certainly clear the backlog of cases pronto.

[Anonymous]

charlie

though i realise your comment is ‘tongue in cheek’ it just shows what a sad state of affairs the system is in, when we think the likelyhood of fast justice might (even in jest) be to have to rely on a little chat with a judge.

[Anonymous]

Not really ‘new’ news, but the front of this weeks Round Town News “Corruption investigators strike hard” refers to the very well-written first post on this thread, which deserves bringing back to the top.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13782&Itemid=31

[Anonymous]

Not really ‘new’ news, but the front of this weeks Round Town News “Corruption investigators strike hard” refers to the very well-written first post on this thread, which deserves bringing back to the top.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13782&Itemid=31

[Anonymous]

Hi Tilly
A very happy update re. ‘winner’ Juan Morales, the ex Partido Popular Mayor of Totana.

As you may recall, he has so far escaped questioning or arrest owing to his status as a regional MP.
Well the good news is this corruption investigation has now been transferred to the Murcia High Court of Justice (the TSJM). This mean that he can now be called in for questioning. 😀
So, no more immunity for poor ol’ Juan, he may just end up joining the ‘losers’ side if justice is done.

You may also recall I wondered what a backhander is worth for a ‘nod & wink’ on 5000 properties. It’s now been reported his backhander was 3 million €.
How the heck do you decide on what car to buy with all that money under the mattress? Oh I forgot, if you can’t decide – you do what he did and buy 3.

[Anonymous]

Hi Tilly
A very happy update re. ‘winner’ Juan Morales, the ex Partido Popular Mayor of Totana.

As you may recall, he has so far escaped questioning or arrest owing to his status as a regional MP.
Well the good news is this corruption investigation has now been transferred to the Murcia High Court of Justice (the TSJM). This mean that he can now be called in for questioning. 😀
So, no more immunity for poor ol’ Juan, he may just end up joining the ‘losers’ side if justice is done.

You may also recall I wondered what a backhander is worth for a ‘nod & wink’ on 5000 properties. It’s now been reported his backhander was 3 million €.
How the heck do you decide on what car to buy with all that money under the mattress? Oh I forgot, if you can’t decide – you do what he did and buy 3.

[Author]

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