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Issue 91
25 - 31 3-9JULY Jan 2014
Justice has not done justice SPAIN’S LEGAL system came in for more criticism this week. “I feel like the star of ‘The process’ by Kafka,” said García Madrid - The Mayor of Torre Pacheco, as he handed in his resignation as Mayor. by Keith Nicol As Spain desperately tries to try and clean up its political act and image through prosecuting political figures most of whom have mainly been accused of corruption, nepotism, favouritism or taking backhanders. The latest to fall foul of the courts is Daniel García Madrid, Mayor of Torre Pacheco, PP, who has been found guilty of committing the crime of ‘prevaricación’, to basically commit a crime with knowledge that one may be doing so, such as in trespassing. He was accused of continuing to award one contractor a total of 26 municipal projects with a total value of 776,522€ without following the procedures set out in the Contracts of Public Administrations. So deemed the Fifth Section of the Provincial Court, located in Cartagena, who on Tuesday condemned the Mayor and councillors José Saura and Santiago Meroño, who all received a ten-year ban from public office, along with stripping them from their
present positions. The ruling also condemns the controller and former mayor of Fuente Álamo Miguel Pérez and businessman Francisco Cavas, the direct beneficiaries of the contracts. An appeal can still be lodged in the Supreme Court and Daniel García Madrid has hinted that he may do so. The court, presided over by Judge José Luis García Fernández, stated as fact that Daniel García Madrid, José Saura and Santiago Merono gave contracts in 2005, 2006 and 2007, as an Oral agreement without setting any agreed written price for work as demanded by procedures provided for in the Contract Law of Public Administration. The judgment states that the defendants, instead of using some of the methods provided by law, such as public tender, restricted or negotiated procedures, “came to award projects to the architect, leaving as the only documentary evidence invoicing, thus avoiding the possibility of competition from other businesses and professionals.” Continued on page 8
Daniel García Madrid - The Mayor of Torre Pacheco, who was stripped of his powers of office on Tuesday