The Public Prosecutor (Fiscalia) has decided not to accept a case prosecuting the townhall of Carboneras and the Junta de Andalucía for initially permitting the construction of the illegal hotel “El Algarrobico”, despite criticism from judges in related cases of the way the original construction was allowed to go ahead.
Various ecologist groups had placed criminal charges against Carboneras townhall and the Junta de Andalucía alleging incompetence, conflict of interest and outright bribery. They also cited a statement made by the instructing judge who ordered the paralysation of the building works, in which he stated that there were clear signs that the law had been breeched by public administrations.
However, the Fiscalia has announced that they are unable to see a reason to prosecute and have decided to archive the case for lack of evidence. Ecologistas en Accion have already announced their intention to appeal to Fiscal General del Estado, the general prosecutor of the State.
Clemente García, provincial delegate of the Environment in Almería, said that it was clear that all public administrations had done their work correctly at all times, but insisted that it was still the Junta’s intention to knock down the hotel as soon as it was legal to do so. “The Algarrobico is stopped and closed” he assured reporters.
If the administrations all did their job properly, then the hotel surely isn’t illegal.