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February 14th - February 27th 2018
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Vol. 3 Issue 64 www.gibraltarolivepress.com February 14th - February 27th 2018
GUERRERO: In the dock
Campo de Colombia
Wasn’t me THE alleged lynchpin in Spain’s biggest ever political fraud claims he made SIX previous confessions up. Former Junta employment boss Francisco Guerrero insists he did not personally gain from the ERE scandal, that saw up to a billion euros embezzled over a decade. He claims he only gave details of the so-called ‘reptile fund’ that he allegedly oversaw, after police put considerable pressure on him.
THE Campo de Gibraltar is becoming the ‘Colombia of Spain’, Spanish police have warned. According to Spain’s United Police Union (SUP), young people in areas like La Linea are idolising Pablo Escobar (right) and becoming increasingly involved in the drug trade. The SUP added that the area was in danger of becoming like Galicia in the 1980s, when it was overrun by
Embezzlement
Guerrero is facing eight years in prison for embezzling €65 million of money from the €647 million emergency public fund that he managed between 1999 and 2008. The money had been set aside to support struggling Andalucian businesses. Instead, Guerrero allegedly awarded fake grants to companies registered in the names of more than 100 of his family members, friends and fellow PSOE politicians. His driver, Juan Francisco Trujillo - nicknamed the ‘cocaine chauffeur’ - claims he set up bogus shell companies to receive public money to spend on ‘cocaine, parties and drinks’. He is also accused of sending ‘retirement money’ to his mother-in-law and the mother of his driver for companies that never existed. On one day alone, Guerrero Continues on Page 4
Deceased SEE PAGE 4
Life sentences for choosing to terminate a pregnancy ‘must come to an end’ EXCLUSIVE By Joe Wallen
THE Government has refused to consider changing a law, which is forcing women to travel abroad for abortions. It comes after a woman’s group launched an appeal to overturn the ‘draconian’ law, which is the strictest in Europe. Currently, any Gibraltarian plus anyone assisting - faces LIFE imprisonment for terminating a pregnancy. Under Section 16 of the 2011 Crime Act a pregnant woman ‘who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage… is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.’ The Gibraltar Women’s Association believes it is now time to change the law. The group claims to know of many women who have suffered physical and mental health problems after being
gangsters and drug lords and was used as an entry point to Europe for Colombian cocaine. It comes after 20 masked men successfully stormed a hospital in La Linea to rescue their drug boss from police custody last week. And just a few days ago, a police car was purposefully smashed into by a ‘hitman’ who was hired to intercept a Turn to Page 2
Abort the law
forced to travel to Spain for poor quality operations. The women then return to
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the Rock, keeping their terminations secret and not seeking further medical care over fears news of their abortion will spread. Coming on the 100th anniversary of British women first being able to vote, its members believe it is forcing many women to have abortions in Spain, or worse, undertake backstreet treatments on the Rock. “Migrants and refugees are particularly vulnerable as they are unable to attain visas to go to Spain,” said spokeswoman Anne-Marie Struggles, 51. She and her colleague Tamsin Suarez are now fighting to reverse the law and raise awareness of the issue with the UN. It comes after they discovered that only three other countries in Europe (Poland, Ireland and Malta) ban abortion and all are in talks with the UN to
PRO CHOICE: Suarez (left) and Struggles decriminalise the act. very conservative place. Ireland is also about to hold The pair say they want to sepa referendum on the issue in arate religion from the state May. and allow women the final say “We however are the only na- on their bodies. tion in Europe who the UN “The Catholic church lobby on are not working with,” Suarez abortion as they did against said. gay marriage a couple of years “They might think we have the ago. It is wrong.” same laws as the UK but in The assocation is now set to fact we are very different.” write to the UN to plead it Suarez and Struggles are ve- opens dialogue with the Gihement their group is pro- braltarian government over choice, not pro-abortion per the issue. se. It will also present its findings They believe it should be up to to the government. a woman to decide what to do When contacted this week the with her body. government refused to sup“The criminalisation of abor- port any reform of the law. tion leads to discrimination “Abortion other than in cerand infringes on women’s tain, defined, medically certidignity,” Struggles told the Gi- fied circumstances, is illegal braltar Olive Press. under Gibraltar law,” a gov“We’ve gone back 100 years ernment spokesman told the on this issue!” Gibraltar Olive Press. “The “There is a lack of women’s Cabinet has not considered rights in Gibraltar and it’s a changing this policy.”