José Mariano Trillo-Figueroa, who, apart from being the lawyer employed by Jaime Giménez Arbe, the armed bank robber better known as 'The Loner, is also the brother of former PP Defence minister, Federico Trillo, was arrested at his office yesterday afternoon accused of internet fraud.

According to Javier Barroso, writing in today's El Pais, Trillo, who was released from custody by police this morning, is accused of trying to sell a four metre high bronze statue not belonging to him on the internet.

The scam allegedly started several months ago when Trillo took photos of the statue, that was in storage on an industrial estate in Madrid, then posted them on an on-line auction site.

It was the statue's owner, who is one of Trillo's female business partners, who reported the matter to the police after paying the €8,000 euros demanded by Trillo and not receiving the item.

A source close to the investigation said yesterday that "the weight of bronze alone in the statue is worth at least €24,000."