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south EDITION New citizen helpline for Pilar residents
Your English Newspaper
Issue 635
16 - 22 dec 2011
Camps on trial
It has been has announced this week that the Town Hall of Pilar de la Horarda has launched a Citizens Advice phone line in Spanish and English p5
by Louise Clarke
Beware of bag snatchers
RTN would like to warn all its readers to be extra vigilant after being told of an incident that happened earlier this week in Benijofar p10
January 31st another deadline Find out more on p31
There’s nothing like a really good steak Read ‘ON the boil’ with Edwin p45
Football success for Castelar college
THE CASTELAR College in San Pedro del Pinatar is celebrating its recent sporting success after taking part in not one, but two football tournaments p63
Maria Wilson
Rudolf would be proud MORE THAN 200 people turned up to take part in last Sunday’s first ever Reindeer Walk in Orihuela Costa. The three kilometre walk started at Fit 4 All in Punta Prima and many of the participants were dressed in festive attire including Father Christmas outfits and reindeer antlers! Read the full story on page 16.
THE FORMER President of Valencia, Francisco Camps, is on trial this week for alleged passive bribery. The former PP President testified in court in front of a jury on Tuesday and was in the dock for nearly five hours. During his testimony he suggested that his arrest and subsequent trial was a “very important political attack” against him by opposition party PSPV-PSOE. The so called ‘Gürtel’ corruption case, which is based around whether or not Camps accepted gifts including tailored suits not only involves the politician, but also several high ranking members of the PP party who were in positions of power in the Valencian Government. The former President told the court that he had called the tailor immediately when he learned that a newspaper was going to publish a story accusing him of receiving suits worth 30,000€. He said: “The tailor went quiet and explained that he had been called by the prosecution and interrogated.” According to Camps, the tailor said that he had been asked if Camps had paid for his suits and that he had responded with: “The clothes were for important people.” VOICE RECORDINGS Camps also admitted that he had tried to get the paper to stop printing the story, to which they initially agreed, but they went on to print it
anyway after telling him that there were “hundreds of voice recordings that were coming out” proving that he knew what was going on. Camps told the jury that he had returned all the gifts that he had been given, including the ones that his family had been given for Christmas in 2008. But the anti-corruption prosecutor refuted that, saying that there is still a watch given to Camps’ wife and a leather bracelet given to his daughter, outstanding. To which the former President said that he didn’t recall such gifts being given. ACCUSATIONS The President went on to say that since May 2009 he has “never” been taken to court for allegedly receiving gifts, so he has not had the “opportunity to explain.” He also said that because of this impending trial he had to leave his job as President of the Valencian Community. He said: “This has been a three year process where I have been ‘gagged’ constantly and it is only now that I have been given the opportunity to defend myself and now I am finally able to respond to these accusations.” He also said that not once as President of the Valencia Community did he ever ask for a receipt for purchases or meals. He insisted: “The reason people need receipts is so that they can deduct the amount for tax purposes, so I did not need to ask. I never asked for receipts in taxis or restaurants, or the sports club where I go. I never ask.” The trial continues.