Sham marriages scam uncovered in Alicante: "Alicante police have arrested four people for a sham marriages fraud to secure Spanish nationality for foreigners. El País reports this Wednesday that the network charged up to 4,000 € for the fake certificates.
Police began their investigations on discovering a number of fake certificates which had been registered at the Alicante Civil Registry for supposed marriages between Spanish women and men from India."
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Thursday 30 December 2010
Bank robber arrested in Alicante enjoying a drink in a nearby bar after the robbery
Bank robber arrested in Alicante enjoying a drink in a nearby bar after the robbery: "forgetful thief is in custody in Seville province after accidentally leaving his house keys behind in one of the houses he had burgled. His target was an urbanisation in Huévar del Aljarafe, where he stole 22 gas boilers and the electrical installations from 31 of the 32 properties on the development.
36 year old D.G.B., who lives in a property adjacent to the urbanisation, was identified by the Civil Guard when one of the keys on the set he had accidentally left behind him was found to fit his front door. Europa Press reports that he has a previous criminal record."
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36 year old D.G.B., who lives in a property adjacent to the urbanisation, was identified by the Civil Guard when one of the keys on the set he had accidentally left behind him was found to fit his front door. Europa Press reports that he has a previous criminal record."
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Romanian couple sentenced for death of retired Murcia priest
Romanian couple sentenced for death of retired Murcia priest: "Romanian couple accused of the death of a retired Murcia priest have been sentenced to 28 years in prison.
75 year old Salvador Fernández Ciller, who had been a missionary in South America for many years before returning home to Murcia, was found beaten to death in his home in Murcia City on April 11 2007. He had acted as parish priest for two churches before his retirement.
The two suspects convicted for his death are Marius Neacsu, sentenced to 20 years for murder and robbery with violence, and his partner of the time, Ramona Mona Strecke, who will spend 8 years behind bars. EFE reports that the court ruled, in the latter’s case, that she was forced to help in the killing and acted out of fear of her partner."
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75 year old Salvador Fernández Ciller, who had been a missionary in South America for many years before returning home to Murcia, was found beaten to death in his home in Murcia City on April 11 2007. He had acted as parish priest for two churches before his retirement.
The two suspects convicted for his death are Marius Neacsu, sentenced to 20 years for murder and robbery with violence, and his partner of the time, Ramona Mona Strecke, who will spend 8 years behind bars. EFE reports that the court ruled, in the latter’s case, that she was forced to help in the killing and acted out of fear of her partner."
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Right hand man of Georgian mafia boss to be extradited to Spain from Russia
Kalashov is currently awaiting extradition to his native Georgia, where he is wanted in connection with the disappearance of a US citizen."
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Tuesday 28 December 2010
WikiLeaks tells why drug kingpin Joaquin 'Chapo' Guzman is still free | Front page | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
The cable also reveals that the Mexican army has two officers stationed at the El Paso Intelligence Center, and that the army prefers to work closely with U.S. anti-drug agencies because it distrusts its country's civilian law enforcement.
The cable covers a discussion last year between National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair and Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Guillermo Galvan Galvan.
'(Galvan) noted that they have found 10 to 15 locations where (Guzman) moves, but that 'Chapo' commands the support of a large network of informers and has security circles of up to 300 men that make launching capture operations difficult,' the document said.
Guzman is battling the Carrillo Fuentes drug cartel for control of the Chihuahua state smuggling corridor, which includes border communities like Juarez, Valle de Juarez, Palomas and Ojinaga."
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Gibraltar’s Police suspects Money Laundering through Belize Company
Gibraltar’s Police suspects Money Laundering through Belize Company: "Gibraltar’s Police officers suspect money laundering scheme to be carried out by a British national through Belize-registered company holding a bank account in Gibraltar.
52-year-old Nasser Heikal, a British national born in Lebanon, has been arrested by Royal Gibraltar Police Financial Crime Unit officers because of money laundering suspicion.
Gibraltar’s Police made a statement to announce that this money laundering case is related to the laundering of the proceeds of a ‘boiler room’ operation that had targeted UK victims between November and December 2010.
The financial investigation identified up to GDP 80 000 that have allegedly been laundered by Heikal with the help of a Belize-incorporated company through a bank account in Gibraltar."
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52-year-old Nasser Heikal, a British national born in Lebanon, has been arrested by Royal Gibraltar Police Financial Crime Unit officers because of money laundering suspicion.
Gibraltar’s Police made a statement to announce that this money laundering case is related to the laundering of the proceeds of a ‘boiler room’ operation that had targeted UK victims between November and December 2010.
The financial investigation identified up to GDP 80 000 that have allegedly been laundered by Heikal with the help of a Belize-incorporated company through a bank account in Gibraltar."
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Dermot McArdle Wife-killer finally face prison in Spain as European arrest warrant issued
Dermot McArdle Wife-killer finally face prison in Spain as European arrest warrant issued: "WIFE-killer Dermot McArdle may be arrested and brought back to Spain after a judge threw out his latest bid to escape jail.
A court in Malaga has issued a European arrest warrant instructing gardai to detain the father-of-three at his home in Heynestown, Dundalk.
Spanish officials said the arrest was being delayed by Irish bureaucrats, who have insisted the Department of Justice becomes involved in the execution of the warrant."
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A court in Malaga has issued a European arrest warrant instructing gardai to detain the father-of-three at his home in Heynestown, Dundalk.
Spanish officials said the arrest was being delayed by Irish bureaucrats, who have insisted the Department of Justice becomes involved in the execution of the warrant."
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Marbella Times, hold up a rival British gang who had smuggled 1.2 tons of cannabis on to the Spanish coast.
Marbella Times: "James Lindsay, 51, and Englishmen David Tricks, 64, and John Hughes, 40, were lifted in the Catral area of the Costa Blanca.
The three suspects are alleged to have used guns to hold up a rival British gang who had smuggled 1.2 tons of cannabis on to the Spanish coast.
Half of the drugs haul was still missing yesterday.
Police said a group of Brits had been buying huge amounts of cannabis from north African traffickers.
A shipment arrived by boat on a beach at Denia, near Alicante, on the Costa Blanca, on December 13. But the gang were allegedly surprised by five Brits armed with pistols and a rifle, who stole the cannabis.
In a statement released by officials at the Court of Instruction in Denia, a spokesman said: 'After a long investigation, officers from the National Police discovered that the robbers planned to sell the drug to some Britons living in the Catral area.'
The statement added: 'The officers intercepted a vehicle with a British man inside, who was carrying in the boot five large bags which had been used to carry drugs.'"
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The three suspects are alleged to have used guns to hold up a rival British gang who had smuggled 1.2 tons of cannabis on to the Spanish coast.
Half of the drugs haul was still missing yesterday.
Police said a group of Brits had been buying huge amounts of cannabis from north African traffickers.
A shipment arrived by boat on a beach at Denia, near Alicante, on the Costa Blanca, on December 13. But the gang were allegedly surprised by five Brits armed with pistols and a rifle, who stole the cannabis.
In a statement released by officials at the Court of Instruction in Denia, a spokesman said: 'After a long investigation, officers from the National Police discovered that the robbers planned to sell the drug to some Britons living in the Catral area.'
The statement added: 'The officers intercepted a vehicle with a British man inside, who was carrying in the boot five large bags which had been used to carry drugs.'"
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Sunday 26 December 2010
Elderly Dutch couple, son found dead in Spain
Elderly Dutch couple, son found dead in Spain (Roundup) - Monsters and Critics: "Spanish divers Saturday recovered the bodies of a Dutch couple from the Fluvia river, hours after police found the body of their 33-year-old son following an apparent family drama.
It was not immediately clear how the Dutchman had died in a country house in Serinya, in north-eastern Spain.
Police found a farewell suicide note from the man's parents next to his body, in which they said they planned to take their own lives in the nearby river.
Investigators regarded the note as authentic and launched a search along the river. The bodies of the parents, both around 70 years old, were found at a depth of two metres."
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It was not immediately clear how the Dutchman had died in a country house in Serinya, in north-eastern Spain.
Police found a farewell suicide note from the man's parents next to his body, in which they said they planned to take their own lives in the nearby river.
Investigators regarded the note as authentic and launched a search along the river. The bodies of the parents, both around 70 years old, were found at a depth of two metres."
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Wednesday 22 December 2010
Briton arrested following Benidorm hotel fire
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Briton arrested following Benidorm 
hotel fire: "Police have arrested a 50 year old Briton, accused of setting fire to the hotel room where he was staying.Thirteen people, all of them British tourists, had to be treated for smoke inhalation following the fire which also led to the evacuation of six of the ten floors of the Hotel Ambassador in Calle Girona in the town. El País reports nine people of the 200 evacuated were hurt and needed hospital treatment, taken to the district hospital in La Vila Joiosa. Two of the injured were allowed home shortly afterwards.
The fire is thought to have started at 0749 on Tuesday morning. Forensic police are now investigating the origin of the blaze."
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Three Britons arrested in Catral drugs bust
Three Britons arrested in Catral drugs bust: "National Police have released details to the EFE news agency this Wednesday of the recent arrest of three British residents of Catral in connection with a haul of 600 kilos of cannabis.
It followed investigations into a gang of drug smugglers who had brought a consignment of 1.2 tons of cannabis onto the Costa Blanca from Morocco earlier this month, only to have it stolen from them at gunpoint by another gang when it was unloaded onto a beach in Denia."
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It followed investigations into a gang of drug smugglers who had brought a consignment of 1.2 tons of cannabis onto the Costa Blanca from Morocco earlier this month, only to have it stolen from them at gunpoint by another gang when it was unloaded onto a beach in Denia."
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Ballena Blanca money laundering case ready for sentencing
Speaking in the court this Tuesday, del Valle said that in life, ‘I have committed many errors, but I have never committed any crimes’, and spoke of the thousands of hours which he said have been wasted on the case by hundreds of people.
He said he was convinced that the court would recognise his innocence, despite the charges against him which, as EFE reports, he claims to be the result of an agreement between the ‘police as the state’s oppressor, the prosecution service and a judge who many times forgot that his function was subject to the law’.
The Ballena Blanca investigation first hit the news with a raid in March 2005 on Fernando del Valle’s Marbella offices. More than 50 people were taken into custody at the time."
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ARRESTED Dennis O'Brien, from Liverpool, is suspected of leading a gang which plotted to import £166 million of cocaine into the UK from Peru.
Dennis O'Brien, from Liverpool, is suspected of leading a gang which plotted to import £166 million of cocaine into the UK from Peru.
The 62-year-old was found at a Costa del Sol bar on Saturday after a joint operation by the British Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and Spanish police.
He is one of the fugitives featured in Operation Captura - Crimestoppers' campaign to trace suspected British criminals who are on the run in Spain.
Police caught up with O'Brien at the Trafalgar Bar, in Calahonda, a coastal town between Marbella and Fuengirola.
A spokesman said: "Dennis Patrick O'Brien was arrested on Saturday in Calahonda in the Costa del Sol.
"The arrest was part of an ongoing operation by the Spanish National Police and the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency targeting bars in the region which are known to be regular haunts of criminals."
O'Brien fled the country in 2005 before he could be put on trial for his alleged role in a conspiracy to supply 1.6 tonnes of cocaine.
His son James Kelly, from Garston, Liverpool, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for 19 years in March 2007 for his part in the same trafficking plot.
The investigation led police from Peru to England, via Rotterdam, Madrid and Amsterdam, and even saw gang members tailed to Hong Kong and Dubai.DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
French woman to be extradited to Spain in unusual move says she's going into hiding - Winnipeg Free Press
French woman to be extradited to Spain in unusual move says she's going into hiding - Winnipeg Free Press: "French woman who is to be extradited to Spain for her work with a pro-independence Basque movement that is legal here but illegal across the border has announced that she is going into hiding.
Aurore Martin, 31, has told the local newspaper Le Journal du Pays Basque that 'I have no other choice.'
Due to her work with Batasuna, Spain accuses her of 'participation in a terrorist organization.'
Last Wednesday, France's Court of Cassation rejected her appeal of a decision to extradite her to Spain.
Batasuna says the extradition by France of one of its citizens is a first.
France and Spain work closely to eradicate the armed Basque group ETA."
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Aurore Martin, 31, has told the local newspaper Le Journal du Pays Basque that 'I have no other choice.'
Due to her work with Batasuna, Spain accuses her of 'participation in a terrorist organization.'
Last Wednesday, France's Court of Cassation rejected her appeal of a decision to extradite her to Spain.
Batasuna says the extradition by France of one of its citizens is a first.
France and Spain work closely to eradicate the armed Basque group ETA."
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Canadian denied critical surgery in Spanish jail, says wife | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
Canadian denied critical surgery in Spanish jail, says wife | Canada | News | Toronto Sun: "Sheree Halliday from Digby, N.S., said her husband, Philip, has had a gall-bladder infection since he was arrested a year ago, and if he doesn't have surgery soon, he could die.
“He's deteriorating on a daily basis ... he has constant pain,” said the mother of two and nurse of 36 years. “It's a real possibility at this point that he could die.
“When he eats he gets sick — fever and nauseated, and he gets the shakes.”
Last March, retired fisherman Philip Halliday took his friend up on an offer for a two-week job as a crew member aboard the Destiny Express.
But on Dec. 20, 2009, Spanish authorities boarded the vessel and found 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in the ship's hold. They charged the 54-year-old Canadian with drug trafficking.
His wife maintains he had no idea there were drugs aboard the ship. He's been in custody for a year, and she still has no idea when his trial will be. It could be another three years before he gets a trial date.
Halliday said her husband's been transferred three times, but his medical records were never transferred with him. At each new prison, he had to see a new doctor and get the same tests he'd already had. And each time, he went back to the bottom of the surgery waiting list."
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“He's deteriorating on a daily basis ... he has constant pain,” said the mother of two and nurse of 36 years. “It's a real possibility at this point that he could die.
“When he eats he gets sick — fever and nauseated, and he gets the shakes.”
Last March, retired fisherman Philip Halliday took his friend up on an offer for a two-week job as a crew member aboard the Destiny Express.
But on Dec. 20, 2009, Spanish authorities boarded the vessel and found 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in the ship's hold. They charged the 54-year-old Canadian with drug trafficking.
His wife maintains he had no idea there were drugs aboard the ship. He's been in custody for a year, and she still has no idea when his trial will be. It could be another three years before he gets a trial date.
Halliday said her husband's been transferred three times, but his medical records were never transferred with him. At each new prison, he had to see a new doctor and get the same tests he'd already had. And each time, he went back to the bottom of the surgery waiting list."
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Tuesday 21 December 2010
Twenty-eight art works, including a few by Pablo Picasso, which were stolen last month from near Madrid have been found
Twenty-eight art works, including a few by Pablo Picasso
, which were stolen last month from near Madrid have been found, officials said. The art works are valued at 2.7 million euros ($3.5 million). Among the works stolen was a sculpture by Eduardo Chillida worth 800,000 euros ($1 million), as well as pieces by Fernando Botero, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tapies and Julio Gonzalez.
The art pieces that were on a truck were stolen on Nov 27 from a warehouse in the Madrid suburb of Getafe, where security cameras filmed three hooded men stealing the vehicle. The truck was found empty a few days later.
The pieces were lent by galleries in Madrid and Barcelona to a gallery in Cologne, Germany.
The art was on its way back to the Spanish galleries at the time of the robbery.DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Muslim pupil offended by the word 'jamón' in class in Cádiz Read more: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_28388.shtml#ixzz18kEPLKCd denuncia against the teacher for psychological ill-treatment in the context of xenophobia and racism.
Muslim pupil offended by the word 'jamón' in class in Cádiz
They placed a denuncia against the teacher for psychological ill-treatment in the context of xenophobia and racism.
It’s understood that an internal investigation is also underway by the education authority in Cádiz province, although the regional government, The Junta de Andalucía, has said that it supports the teacher as the complaint is ‘out of place’.
The government’s Minister for Presidency, Ramón Jáuregi, was questioned on the incident in an interview on Onda Cero radio this Monday morning. He described the denuncia as ‘unfounded’ and said there was no hope of it going any further.
Read more: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_28388.shtml#ixzz18kDuVIbtDISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
They placed a denuncia against the teacher for psychological ill-treatment in the context of xenophobia and racism.
It’s understood that an internal investigation is also underway by the education authority in Cádiz province, although the regional government, The Junta de Andalucía, has said that it supports the teacher as the complaint is ‘out of place’.
The government’s Minister for Presidency, Ramón Jáuregi, was questioned on the incident in an interview on Onda Cero radio this Monday morning. He described the denuncia as ‘unfounded’ and said there was no hope of it going any further.
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National Police operation against a real estate scam for the sale of fictitious properties in Turkey which were sold through offices in Alicante and the Costa del Sol.
Interior Ministry has released details of a National Police operation against a real estate scam for the sale of fictitious properties in Turkey 
which were sold through offices in Alicante and the Costa del Sol.The only arrest so far in the case is a suspect from New Zealand, who was taken into custody in Calpe, but it’s understood that other suspects from the UK have been identified and that the organisation worked with British real estate companies.
The Ministry said 400,000 € was defrauded from unsuspecting foreigners resident in Spain who thought they were investing in luxury tourist resorts to be built in Turkey. They were even shown plans of the properties which were drawn up by another victim of the scam, a Belgian architect who was never paid for his work.
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Another vet is reported to have been charged been charged in the Parque Animal case, the animal shelter in Torremolinos
Another vet is reported to have been charged been charged in the Parque Animal case, the animal shelter in Torremolinos which is at the centre of allegations of abuse.
The investigation into the installations by the Civil Guard’s nature protection branch, Seprona, revealed that more than 2,000 animals suffered a slow and agonising death when a lower dosage of the euthanasia medicine was used to save costs.
The news that another vet has been charged in the case was given to El Mundo newspaper on Monday by Antonio Moreno, president of an animal protection association on the Costa del Sol. He told the paper that the suspect is accused of falsifying documents in connection with the case.
Read more: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_28393.shtml#ixzz18kCiNfrNDISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
The investigation into the installations by the Civil Guard’s nature protection branch, Seprona, revealed that more than 2,000 animals suffered a slow and agonising death when a lower dosage of the euthanasia medicine was used to save costs.
The news that another vet has been charged in the case was given to El Mundo newspaper on Monday by Antonio Moreno, president of an animal protection association on the Costa del Sol. He told the paper that the suspect is accused of falsifying documents in connection with the case.
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ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor in Marbella is thought to have done a deal with the prosecutor, and appears to be 'spilling the beans'.
The ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor in Marbella is thought to have done a deal with the prosecutor, and appears to be 'spilling the beans'.
A week after first expected by the media, the man at the centre of the Malaya corruption case, the largest ever municipal corruption case ever seen in Spain, Juan Antonio Roca, finally took to the stand in the Málaga court on Monday.
Roca started his declaration after 1pm to the anti-corruption prosecutor, Juan Carlos López Caballero.
The ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor told the court that he paid 741,000 €, ‘some 123 million pesetas’, to Pedro Román, in a real estate backhander based on land sold on in Puerto Banús. Roca said that he had 15% of the company which had been established to purchase and sell the land, and that Roman had 62% of the shares. He even said that the money was paid in four cheques in foreign currency ‘from a previous real estate deal’ and with 50,000 € in cash.
Already there is speculation that Roca is spilling the beans as part of a deal with the anti-corruption prosecutor. His details of such a payment goes directly against the statement made to the court last week by the ex Deputy Mayor, Pedro Román, the right hand man for many years to the late Mayor, Jesús Gil y Gil.
Román claimed that he only found out that Roca took part in the Swiss based company, Lipsag A.G. after he had left it.
Roca contended that it was Jesús Gil who ‘always determined the conditions’, and said that he had instructions from Gil to modify the existing deal. It called on Roman to pay 240 million pesetas for the use of the land, when the previous owner had been charged 60. ‘El Señor Gil told me that as it was Pedro Román, the quantity was higher’.
It’s estimated that Marbella Town Hall lost out to the tune of some 5 million € because of the deal which allegedly achieved a profit for those involved of more than six million €.
Read more: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_28386.shtml#ixzz18kBqi1WxDISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
A week after first expected by the media, the man at the centre of the Malaya corruption case, the largest ever municipal corruption case ever seen in Spain, Juan Antonio Roca, finally took to the stand in the Málaga court on Monday.
Roca started his declaration after 1pm to the anti-corruption prosecutor, Juan Carlos López Caballero.
The ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor told the court that he paid 741,000 €, ‘some 123 million pesetas’, to Pedro Román, in a real estate backhander based on land sold on in Puerto Banús. Roca said that he had 15% of the company which had been established to purchase and sell the land, and that Roman had 62% of the shares. He even said that the money was paid in four cheques in foreign currency ‘from a previous real estate deal’ and with 50,000 € in cash.
Already there is speculation that Roca is spilling the beans as part of a deal with the anti-corruption prosecutor. His details of such a payment goes directly against the statement made to the court last week by the ex Deputy Mayor, Pedro Román, the right hand man for many years to the late Mayor, Jesús Gil y Gil.
Román claimed that he only found out that Roca took part in the Swiss based company, Lipsag A.G. after he had left it.
Roca contended that it was Jesús Gil who ‘always determined the conditions’, and said that he had instructions from Gil to modify the existing deal. It called on Roman to pay 240 million pesetas for the use of the land, when the previous owner had been charged 60. ‘El Señor Gil told me that as it was Pedro Román, the quantity was higher’.
It’s estimated that Marbella Town Hall lost out to the tune of some 5 million € because of the deal which allegedly achieved a profit for those involved of more than six million €.
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Saturday 18 December 2010
UK government brings in expert property advisor | Olive Press Newspaper | News Spain
UK government brings in expert property advisor Olive Press Newspaper News Spain: "British government has appointed an overseas property advisor following pressure from expat action groups who have lost millions in Spanish property scams.
The move comes after it was recently reported 300 Britons lost 40 million euros in deposits to Estepona Beach and Country Club near Marbella, part of which was never built.
The overseas advisor will advise British victims of property fraud and direct them to the correct Spanish government authorities.
But some pressure groups argue that laws are not tight enough and have too many loopholes allowing bogus property developers to con hundreds of expats.
The British ambassador to Spain has also raised some issues with the Andalucian regional government and the Minister for Public Works and Housing, including illegal permits and the time and cost spent resolving property disputes.
A spokesman for the British Embassy in Madrid said they cannot influence Spanish legislation, but are putting pressure on the authorities to do something about the problems effecting UK citizens and Spain’s reputation abroad."
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The move comes after it was recently reported 300 Britons lost 40 million euros in deposits to Estepona Beach and Country Club near Marbella, part of which was never built.
The overseas advisor will advise British victims of property fraud and direct them to the correct Spanish government authorities.
But some pressure groups argue that laws are not tight enough and have too many loopholes allowing bogus property developers to con hundreds of expats.
The British ambassador to Spain has also raised some issues with the Andalucian regional government and the Minister for Public Works and Housing, including illegal permits and the time and cost spent resolving property disputes.
A spokesman for the British Embassy in Madrid said they cannot influence Spanish legislation, but are putting pressure on the authorities to do something about the problems effecting UK citizens and Spain’s reputation abroad."
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Anti-drug chief of Malaga’s Guardia Civil has been arrested | Olive Press Newspaper | News Spain
Anti-drug chief of Malaga’s Guardia Civil has been arrested Olive Press Newspaper News Spain: "anti-drug chief of Malaga’s Guardia Civil has been arrested in an ever-widening operation against drug trafficking in the province.
The arrest of high-ranking officer on Friday follows the detainment of two Guardia Civil 
officers in Mijas and Cordoba earlier this week.
A former Guardia Civil officer has also been arrested.
Guardia Civil’s internal investigators began tracking the suspects after a big drug seizure near Marbella on September 21.
The seizure pointed to corrupt supporters within Andalucia’s police force."
The arrest of high-ranking officer on Friday follows the detainment of two Guardia Civil officers in Mijas and Cordoba earlier this week.A former Guardia Civil officer has also been arrested.
Guardia Civil’s internal investigators began tracking the suspects after a big drug seizure near Marbella on September 21.
The seizure pointed to corrupt supporters within Andalucia’s police force."
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Britons lose millions on the Costa homes that never existed - Telegraph
Britons lose millions on the Costa homes that never existed - Telegraph: "investigation is now ongoing into Ocean View Properties, based in Birmingham, which was the British representative for Sun Golf Desarrollos Immobiliarios SL in Spain.
The company was formally dissolved in March last year when investigators and liquidators were brought in to try and recoup some of the losses for its creditors.
No charges have been brought, but the official receiver public interest unit in Manchester has until March 2011 to decide whether or not they will launch a civil case.
It is understood a police investigation was also undertaken, but the decision over whether to pursue criminal charges has yet to be made."
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The company was formally dissolved in March last year when investigators and liquidators were brought in to try and recoup some of the losses for its creditors.
No charges have been brought, but the official receiver public interest unit in Manchester has until March 2011 to decide whether or not they will launch a civil case.
It is understood a police investigation was also undertaken, but the decision over whether to pursue criminal charges has yet to be made."
DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Friday 10 December 2010
Berger Singerman’s ties to Gibraltar bank | South Florida Business Journal
Berger Singerman’s ties to Gibraltar bank South Florida Business Journal: "Berger Singerman is facing more scrutiny over its ties to Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust and their relevance to convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein, who owned a stake in the bank.
Qtask, one of the players with connections to Rothstein, wants to depose a representative of Gibralter regarding its ties to Miami-based Berger Singerman.
The firm is conducting most of the legal work on the bankruptcy of Rothstein’s defunct law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.
Berger filed suit against Qtask, a California-based software firm in which Rothstein also invested. Berger has been locked into a months-long e-discovery dispute with Qtask over requests for data.
Gibraltar holds an interesting position in the Rothstein scandal because most of the dirty money in the scam flowed through its accounts. The bank is fighting allegations by investors that it ignored warning signs of Rothstein’s fraud.
Paul Singerman, a name partner at the Berger Singerman firm, disclosed more than a year ago that he had invested money in Gibraltar."
DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Qtask, one of the players with connections to Rothstein, wants to depose a representative of Gibralter regarding its ties to Miami-based Berger Singerman.
The firm is conducting most of the legal work on the bankruptcy of Rothstein’s defunct law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.
Berger filed suit against Qtask, a California-based software firm in which Rothstein also invested. Berger has been locked into a months-long e-discovery dispute with Qtask over requests for data.
Gibraltar holds an interesting position in the Rothstein scandal because most of the dirty money in the scam flowed through its accounts. The bank is fighting allegations by investors that it ignored warning signs of Rothstein’s fraud.
Paul Singerman, a name partner at the Berger Singerman firm, disclosed more than a year ago that he had invested money in Gibraltar."
DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Friday 3 December 2010
British man stops schoolgirl being snatched in Benalmádena
British man stops schoolgirl being snatched in Benalmádena: "Detectives from the National Police are investigating an attempted kidnapping in Benalmádena recently where the victim, an 11 year old schoolgirl, was saved from being snatched by a passerby. Reporting on the incident this Thursday, Diario Sur said the child’s rescuer is believed to have been British.
It happened near La Paloma school in Arroyo de la Miel, after the victim had left the building after out of school activities one afternoon and was approached by a man, aged around 25, who tried to force her into his car. She later told her parents that he was dark-skinned and spoke Spanish with a foreign accent.
She was saved by a passerby who heard her cries for help and pushed her assailant away, with the warning that he would call the police if the kidnapper refused to let the youngster go. Police are now looking for the suspect, together with two other men the 11 year old said were with him in the car."
DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
It happened near La Paloma school in Arroyo de la Miel, after the victim had left the building after out of school activities one afternoon and was approached by a man, aged around 25, who tried to force her into his car. She later told her parents that he was dark-skinned and spoke Spanish with a foreign accent.
She was saved by a passerby who heard her cries for help and pushed her assailant away, with the warning that he would call the police if the kidnapper refused to let the youngster go. Police are now looking for the suspect, together with two other men the 11 year old said were with him in the car."
DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Spanish police break up heroin smugglers
Spanish police break up heroin smugglers: "Iranians and Spaniards distributed the drugs hidden in vehicles
National Police have broken up an organisation which distributed heroin across Spain, hidden in vehicles. Eight arrests were made, and nine kilos of the drug impounded. It had been transported to Sevilla hidden in the spare wheel of a vehicle.
The main players in the group were based in Mostoles, Madrid, but with intermediaries in Sevilla and Málaga."
National Police have broken up an organisation which distributed heroin across Spain, hidden in vehicles. Eight arrests were made, and nine kilos of the drug impounded. It had been transported to Sevilla hidden in the spare wheel of a vehicle.
The main players in the group were based in Mostoles, Madrid, but with intermediaries in Sevilla and Málaga."
Wednesday 1 December 2010
Defence lawyers acting for the Chilean lawyer based in Marbella, Fernando del Valle
, the man at the centre of the Ballena Blanca money laundering case, have called for the case to be declared null and void.
Horacio Oliva said in his final comments to the judge that his client suffered ‘unjustified interference’ of his basic rights during the instruction stage of the case. He said the arrest warrant issued against his client by Judge Miguel Angel Torres had an erroneous motive, and was more appropriate to the fight against terrorism or organised crime. He said they entered the office, destroyed it, and then obtained rickety evidence.
The lawyer argued that Del Valle, accused of setting up companies which allowed the laundering of 12 million € of black money, with that of the taxi driver who drives a client to the shanty town on the outskirts.
‘The taxi driver may be convinced that his passenger is going to buy drugs, but that does not make him an accomplice to the drug traffickers’.
Fernando del Valle faces a possible 17 years in prison and a fine of 36 million €, accused of aiding the laundering of 31 million € from illicit activities.
Horacio Oliva said in his final comments to the judge that his client suffered ‘unjustified interference’ of his basic rights during the instruction stage of the case. He said the arrest warrant issued against his client by Judge Miguel Angel Torres had an erroneous motive, and was more appropriate to the fight against terrorism or organised crime. He said they entered the office, destroyed it, and then obtained rickety evidence.
The lawyer argued that Del Valle, accused of setting up companies which allowed the laundering of 12 million € of black money, with that of the taxi driver who drives a client to the shanty town on the outskirts.
‘The taxi driver may be convinced that his passenger is going to buy drugs, but that does not make him an accomplice to the drug traffickers’.
Fernando del Valle faces a possible 17 years in prison and a fine of 36 million €, accused of aiding the laundering of 31 million € from illicit activities.
500 € notes were found by a hotel worker
More than 200,000 € worth of fake 500 € notes have been found in the room of a Málaga hotel. As if in a Hollywood film the notes were found behind the air conditioning grill in one of the rooms by a worker in the Tryp Alameda Hotel in the city centre.
The room supervisor noted that the grill had been forced and found the notes behind, then calling the National Police.
The notes have been set to Madrid to confirm they are counterfeit, and an investigation has been opened as to who could have left them there. Police think it could have been part of a fraud attempt.
The room supervisor noted that the grill had been forced and found the notes behind, then calling the National Police.
The notes have been set to Madrid to confirm they are counterfeit, and an investigation has been opened as to who could have left them there. Police think it could have been part of a fraud attempt.
The alleged drug trafficker known as the ‘Irish Godfather’, Christopher Kinahan, has been granted bail by the judge
Judge María del Carmen Gutiérrez Henares, in Court Number 3 in Estepona. authorised the release from prison for his two sons, Christy Junior and Daniel, with bail set at 60,000 € for each one of the three.
Reports indicate that they all left the Albolote prison in Granada on Friday
They have been held on remand since May when the police arrested them as part of an operation, codenamed Shovel, which extended across five countries.
Kinahan has been ordered to present himself to the court every Monday as part of the bail conditions, and has had his passport withdrawn. He is accused of heading a grand network of organised crime, which distributed drugs across Europe and offered money laundering services to other drug dealers.
Intelligence services from five countries took part in the Shovel operation, which saw some 30 arrests in Spain, Ireland and the UK. Most of the arrests were in Marbella, Estepona and Fuengirola. 60 properties worth 150 million € were impounded and the ownership of some 50 others in Brazil is being investigated.
Kinahan is also linked to the February 2008 shooting of a 28 year old in an Estepona urbanisation.
Police consider him to be highly intelligent and say that is why he has managed to appear distant from the criminal activities, although he has been sentenced in Ireland for both drug trafficking and financial crimes. Irish police say he spent his time in jail perfecting his Dutch and Spanish languages.
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