Posts Tagged ohanes corruption case

Ex-mayor of Ohanes out without bail – claims video was “manipulated”

Posted by admin in Blog on February 17th, 2009

Our friend Juan Francisco Sierra (ex-mayor of Ohanes who is charged with corruption and fiscal coercion) has been released without bail by the Judge pending his trial.

In a declaration to the press, his lawyer claimed that the video had been manipulated (he refused specifics, stating that that was for the court), and furthermore stated that his client is the injured party who has been only ever worked hard and honestly for his village, but has been smeared by a dirty tricks campaign. “Justice”, he said, “has my absolute collaboration, for all will turn out OK and and the defamations made against me in the last few weeks shall be quashed”.

Optimistic I feel, but no point going into a long court case feeling depressed.

The main case has yet to be set, but meanwhile the P.P. is making full use of this corruption case to offset their own problems; the secretary general of P.P. in Andalucia (Antonio Sanz) proposed that the PSOE, if they have nothing to hide in this case, accept the creation of an investigatory committee to exercise “democratic hygiene”. And Juan José Matarí, P.P. diputado for Almería, went even further, hinting that if JuanFran had been a P.P. mayor the party’s actions would have been “harsher”. (Old JuanFran was allowed to resign from PSOE with honour intact shortly before the whatsit hit the fan).

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Modesto Lopez explains why he shopped corrupt mayor of Ohanes

Posted by admin in Blog on February 13th, 2009

Modesto Francisco Lopez Ortega is the promotor who can be seen in this infamous video giving the corrupt mayor of Ohanes (a small village above Almeria) 30,000€ for a building license. After falling out with the mayor, he handed over the video to the Guardia. The Mayor (now ex mayor), who was allowed by PSOE to resign “with dignity” from his post and his membership of the party (early retirement, apparantly; going to spend more time with the inmates at the local jail) is now on trial charged with abuse of power, accepting and requesting bribes and fiscal coercion. PP is using this case as ammo in it’s war against the PSOE, arguing that it shows that both sides have rotten apples and it’s not fair that Garzon is just concentrating on them.
modesto francisco lopez ortega promotor ohanes
Modesto Lopez, promotor

Modesto gave an interview to La Voz de Almeria explaining why he shopped Mayor Juan Francisco Sierra. Modesto owned a company called “Menjemor Promociones y Desarrollos Turisticos S.L.”, which has built since 2001 some 200 homes in the area around Ohanes, 108 of them before 2005. It seems that of the last 25 homes he built, Mayor Juan Francisco refused to give him the occuptation license for over 11 months, something that ruined the businessman.

In the article, he claims that several years ago the mayor “suggested” that he might be able to speed up the planning process in exchange for a bit of cash. Paella I think they call it. Over time, the demands became more extravagent; he claims that the mayor at one point asked for a house” at cost” (no news on if he got it).

It got to the point, he claims, when he was unable to pay the mayor and in exchange the mayor refused to give him the licenses – this, together with the crisis, forced him into insolvency.

He also claims, a point that has been picked up the P.P., that at one point he made an “unofficial” complaint to the PSOE party in Almeria, but was met with an attitude of “yes… we know… so what?”.

This little case promises to roll on…. the ex-mayor is expected up again in front of the beak tomorrow at 10am. “Justice”, says Modesto, “will have the final word”.

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Mayor of OHANES filmed accepting bribes

Posted by admin in Blog on February 10th, 2009

The newspaper ABC has released a video showing the mayor of Ohanes, a small village in Almería, accepting cash from a builder in exchange for building licenses in May 2005.

The Mayor is seen counting out notes to the amount of €29,000; whereupon he asks why €1000 is missing and the promotor agrees to pass the money to him the next day. They discuss the handover of the paperwork, and a verbal promise to pay a further €30,000 upon receipt of signed paperwork is audible.

Mayor Juan Francisco Sevilla (who resigned when allegations of this case came to light) is awaiting trial on other charges of corruption and fiscal coercion. He belong(ed) to the PSOE party – it appears that he was allowed to resign with honour intact- and the P.P. are demanding action.

Here’s the video (Thanks to Kalebeul for pointing me in the direction of it):

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