The Provincial Court in Málaga has once again denied an application for bail from the man at the centre of the Malaya and Saqueo corruption cases in Marbella, the ex municipal real estate assessor, Juan Antonio Roca.The court considered that his situation was worsening and that with the news that he could have money stored abroad and so there is a high risk of flight.Roca has been held in captivity since March 29 2006, but the court ruled that despite that being a long time it had only been because the complexity of the case had meant a delay in it reaching court.
The Malaya case is expected to finally get underway in Málaga this year.

THREE bodies were found in less than 24 hours in Cullera, Sellent and Favara, although authorities have said that the deaths do not appear to be related. They were found by passers-by who alerted the Guardia Civil and were each found in a different state of decomposition. One is believed to be that of a man who was murdered two years ago in Sellent, a crime for which Guardia Civil have already arrested three people. Another was found near the Santa Marta campsite in Cullera and had signs of blunt force trauma to the skull. The one found in Favara was found hidden in the bushes and wrapped in plastic. Police are investigating.

LOCAL POLICE in Palma arrested a 32-year-old man, after he and his brother attacked two officers who had been called to their home after a family argument. The events took place in the early hours of the morning in Son Roca when the officers were called to the scene because of a violent row. When they arrived they found blood on the landing and in a flat where the man, who was in an aggressive and nervous state, was found covered in cuts and bruises. When he saw the officers, he threw an electric fan at them and then attacked one of them. When the other officer went to help, the man’s brother grabbed him by the neck and punched him before running away. The other was arrested and had to be taken to a health centre.

TWO people were arrested by Local Police after they used an umbrella to rob a perfume shop in the centre of Malaga and attack the shopkeeper. The two men, both from Malaga and aged 29 and 40, hit the shopkeeper on the head with the umbrella, as well as punching and biting him. They then fled with two bottles of perfume worth just over 100 euros. Police began to search the area and found the two near the Atarazanas Market where they were ordered to stop. However, the fled through the streets of Malaga and were caught at the Puente de la Trinidad. The officers identified and searched them, finding the perfume, the umbrella and a bag lined with tin foil to prevent alarms being set off. They were taken to the police station and later appeared before a judge. The stolen goods were given back to the shopkeeper.

Marbella, the Costa del Sol’s capital of cool, is set to be the fifth exclusive global destination to be put under the spotlight of Piers Morgan’s Travelogues show on ITV, as part of the second series.Piers Morgan’s Travelogues began last year investigating the inner-workings of some of the world’s most highly regarded cities, following on from his successful three part series looking at the British millionaires hotspot of Sandbanks in Poole. The first series featured the United Arab Emirates goldmine of Dubai, Holywood and Monte Carlo. The new second series will highlight the delights of Las Vegas, Shanghai and Marbella. Kicking off the new series Morgan headed stateside to the Nevada desert for an interesting look at Las Vegas a city with a legacy that can compete with any of the worlds leading destinations.The second week of the show will be the turn of Marbella with the write-up promising that Piers will explore two sides of the famous Costa del Sol city as he tours around the Spanish resort of Marbella investigating the tale of two cities he believes it is – one part swamped with boozed up Brits, vice girls and dubbed the Costa del Crime, the other part home to millionaires.

Piers Morgan on Marbella will be shown on ITV1 at 9pm on Tuesday 12th Jan.

Guardia Civil arrested 13 individuals of Rumanian origin accused of commiting 20 robberies in recreational spaces and bars, restaurants and hotels of different points of Andalucia. The first crime took place last October in a bar in Grazalema (Cadiz) where the accused forced a window and took the money in the slot machines, the till and the cigarette machine. That same day, three other robberies took place in the locality, two in bars and one in a car.A string of crimes ensued in different localities of Malaga, Huelva and Cordoba, all with a similar modus operandi. They would steal a car and use it to tear out the gates or windows of the establishment they were robbing and then emptied tills and slot and cigarette machines.Finally Police Agents of several towns in Cadiz identified the criminals and they where apprehended in Malaga and Cordoba

Six people have been arrested in Valencia for kidnapping a businessman who was held captive in a countryside cabin in Chiva for six days before he managed to escape. Europa Press said one of his captors is an employee at the construction company the businessman owns.The victim was snatched on an industrial estate in Chiva and forced at gunpoint into the van which took him to the place where he was held and repeatedly beaten during his captivity. He was handcuffed and kept with a hood over his head after a first failed attempt at escaping, and threatened with being buried in a hole dug in the ground if the ransom was not paid over. The kidnappers were demanding a payment of 300,000 € to secure his release.He finally managed to escape and reached the Civil Guard barracks in Cheste to report his ordeal. None of the kidnappers’ names have been released, but it’s understood that at least three are from Colombia and two are Spaniards.

homeless man who was attacked with an axe in Fuengirola in the early hours of Monday regained consciousness on Tuesday and is now understood to be off assisted respiration. His condition is however still serious and he remains in the Intensive Care unit of the Carlos Haya Hospital in Málaga.The 53 year old, who it’s understood is well known locally, was found with an axe wound to his head on Calle Palangreros shortly after 4am on Monday. Police are investigating any possible connection with a similar, fatal, attack on another homeless man in Fuengirola last month, whose body was found in a local car park with an axe buried in his head.

Police are investigating the death of a 42 year old Russian woman whose stabbed body was found in her home in Almería. Her flatmate alerted the National Police to the tragedy and they say that all lines of investigation remain open.The body was found in the early hours of Wednesday in the home in Calle Rodrigo Vivas Miras in Almería.

The body of another homeless person has been found in Málaga. The 45 year old showed no signs of violence, but given the two recent axe attacks on homeless men in Fuengirola, one of which was fatal, the Police say they are investigating and waiting the results of an autopsy.The body was found around 6am on Wednesday close to the Muelle de Heredia, not far from the city centre.

National Police have smashed a drugs gang which smuggled regular consignments of cannabis onto the Algeciras ferry at Tangiers and which used a rented garage in Algeciras as a warehouse to store the drugs they brought over from Morocco. A quarter of a ton of cannabis was impounded as part of the police operation.Five of the eight suspects taken into custody are reported by the EFE news agency as crew members on one of the ferries which cover the route and employees of companies contracted to supply provisions to the boat.The gang leader was arrested with two other suspects at the Algeciras garage in possession of the latest consignment to have been brought over.

Two people have been arrested in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona province, for the death of a 32 year old woman from Peru who was found dead at her home in the city on Wednesday afternoon. The two suspects are also from Peru: the alleged murderer, who is the woman’s partner, and another man who was in the home and saw her being killed.Police have yet to determine if the murder of a 42 year old Russian woman who was found stabbed to death at her home in Almería City early on Wednesday is another case of domestic violence. Ideal newspaper said the fact that she worked at an alternative nightclub could prove key to the investigation.

Green light has been given to the Spanish Government’s project to close down any web page which is found to be infringing copyright law.

Under the legislation the Ministry for Culture would handle and complaints via a new body called the Intellectual Property Commission, and then pass on the information to the National Court which would then have to make a ruling and decide to issue a court order to close the web down within four days or to order that its content be blocked. The website owner will be consulted at the time of the initial complaint and will also have the right to appeal should the site be blocked.The legislation is part of the new Sustainable Economy Law which is currently being modified. Minister for Justice, Fernando Caamaño, said that the new legislation would allow for citizens to place a complaint which would then be investigated and then the judge would be informed so that appropriate action can be taken. He said that a modification of the Judicial Power Organic Law would also be needed in what he said would be the most agile way of dealing with the problem while protecting fundamental rights.Internet users associations are already complaining on social network sites that the law was a short cut that could even lead to the closure of Google.
But Joan Navarro, from the Creators Coalition, was happy at the news which he said to the EFE news agency would have a devastating effect on pirated content.

Andalucia’s most wanted man Jose Luis Maseda, 67, who has apparently disappeared after wheeling and dealing for more than 25 years. Claiming to be a lawyer, financial consultant and tax advisor, Maseda wooed hundreds of clients to invest their money from the confines of his Eurobrokers office, in central Benalmadena.up to 100 former clients, are trying to track him down in a bid to discover what has happened to an estimated 20 million euros invested through him.
But now, the Fraud Squad, and up to 100 former clients, are trying to track him down in a bid to discover what has happened to an estimated 20 million euros invested through him.Most peoples’ accounts are similar, with smooth-talking Maseda having been recommended to them via a series of third parties, or even local banks.
Billed as the key to getting a licence, buying a house, or successfully investing money, they were usually taken in by his excellent English and confident manner.
A joint action has this week been launched by Fuengirola lawyer Juan Carlos Carrasco, who has signed up at least five clients.These include Geoff Gales, 59, who claims that he and his family have lost up to 1.5 million euros through Maseda.
The boss of CG Properties Geoff Gales, 59, who worked closely with Maseda for 10 years, invested the money in a number of plots on a failed golf venture in Villanueva del Rosario, near Antequera.He has spent the best part of the past year investigating the movements and behaviour of Maseda.“I believe he has a questionable track record dating back some 35 years to when he first ventured down to the coast from Madrid,” he explained.I discovered that he had taken out a mortgage in my name without my permission
“I spoke to one British doctor, for example, who claims to have lost money in one of his deals 33 years ago.”Another case involves Fiona Tiernan, 57, from Ireland, who discovered that Maseda had taken out a mortgage in her name without her permission after she gave him her power of attorney.“The first thing I knew was when I was contacted by Bankinter notifying me of a 92,000 euro mortgage that had received no repayments,” said Tiernan. She has now filed a report to the National Police fraud squad in Benalmadena, who are investigating her case.“How Maseda lives with himself confounds me. It would appear he has no conscience,” she added. Getting his clients’ power of attorney, appears to be one of Maseda’s favourite methods.
Linda Smith, 51, from Bedfordshire, also discovered she had a 95,000 euro mortgage through Bankinter after signing power of attorney over to him.The mother-of-two had initially been put in touch with Maseda after visiting the Benalmadena branch of Banco Popular.“I had wanted to sell my house and Banco Popular recommended I spoke to Maseda.
“I went to see him and he told me that he knew people who could take the house off my hands, so I signed over my power of attorney to him and heard nothing.
“Some time later I was notified that I had apparently taken out a 95,000 euro mortgage with Bankinter and the house wasn’t sold.”
It emerged that Bankinter paid off the original 40,000 euro mortgage to Banco Popular and set up a new mortgage in her name.
“I never signed anything,” insists Smith. “No application forms. Maseda handled everything, even disclosing what he thought was my occupation and salary.”
Maseda was an official bank agent for Banco Popular – a very convenient relationship, especially as his offices were a two-minute walk away. His website also claimed to be an authorised agent for numerous other banks, such as Halifax and Sol Bank.
Police confirmed the connection between Banco Popular and Maseda, but were quick to quash any suggestions of impropriety.Detective Juan Martin, who is handling the case, explained: “Although there was definite interaction, I am sure bank employess were equally unaware of the man’s dealings.” The complicated Eurobrokers saga dates back 27 years, when, in 1982, a youthful Maseda opened his own financial advisory company. Born and educated in Madrid, the 39-year-old, like many fast young bucks of the time, saw the chance to make serious money on the Costa del Sol, which had become one of Europe’s holiday playgrounds.His company Eurobrokers aimed to help people looking to invest in the lucrative Spanish property market. Success soon followed and Maseda embarked on setting up “franchises” across the world in places as far flung as Bolivia and Ecuador. One affiliate called Ecuacasa – part of the official ‘Eurobrokers Group’ – promises “to do whatever it takes to ensure the seamless purchase, sale or legalisation” of property bought in Ecuador. However, over the past five years, this apparent success only served to mask the mounting debts that Maseda was racking up with clients back in Spain.
Many of these were caught up in the failed golf development in Villanueva del Rosario, which is now mired in controversy and under investigation in the courts. Maseda was involved in the sale of dozens of plots in the scheme, before it was passed by the authorities.His motivation though seems almost entirely to have been based on one simple thing, money. “He was absolutely obsessed by money, it was what drove him the whole time,” says a former client allegedly owed 174,000 euros by Maseda, who wishes to remain anonymous. “The sole purpose of his existence was making cash. He was a spendaholic.”
And the evidence of Maseda’s work was always on display. Aside from his Malaga home, he also owned properties in El Pinar, close to Torremolinos, as well as Madrid and, allegedly, South America.He carried all the trappings of wealth. He drove a Mercedes and a BMW motorbike
He carried all the trappings of wealth. He drove a black Mercedes, BMW as well as a BMW motorbike. Appearances meant everything to Maseda. He sported a gold Rolex watch, the latest designer suits and would boast about having two house maids to help his wife Dolores. “He lived a life of luxury, every Sunday morning he would religiously wash all six of the family cars,” explains Richard Taylor, former partner of Costa Property Services Spain – a company formerly linked with Maseda. Another client, Victoria Pickles, 36, from Norwich, who bought a 100,000 euro house through Maseda, which, six years later, is still yet to be legalised, was instantly seduced by Maseda. “He seemed very money-orientated and part of that drew me in. What sticks out in my mind is the big gold bracelet he always wore, as well as the pristine leather jacket.”

23-YEAR-OLD man has lost his life during a brawl in Almería, National Police report. He was stabbed to death at around 21.00hrs in the street on New Year’s Day in the Venta Gaspar district of the city.Although emergency services rushed to the scene, they were unable to save the young man. Police say his death was the result of a fight between the victim and another man of a similar age, whose whereabouts are as yet unknown.

2 million € worth of heroin have been recovered by National Police in Madrid after the packages were delivered by error to the Spanish capital’s central wholesale market, Mercamadrid, amongst the cargo of bananas which the drugs gang had used to smuggle them into the country.The alarm was raised on Saturday morning when staff at Lidl supermarkets unpacked the boxes of bananas which had been distributed from Mercamadrid to the company’s stores in the city, and discovered one-kilo packages of heroin hidden beneath the fruit.El Mundo said 25 packets of heroin were recovered by police.

Domestic violence claimed its first victim of 2010 in Sevilla province in the early hours of Sunday, where a 45 year old woman died at the hands of her partner at her home in El Cuervo, a village which lies on the border with Cádiz province. She is named with the initials of J.R.Z.Her 54 year old partner, J.M.C.E., was taken into custody after he contacted the local police confessing to the crime at around 4am on Sunday.The Civil Guard are in charge of the investigation and have told the EFE news agency that there is no known previous history of abuse. An autopsy will now determine the exact cause of death, although there are first indications that the victim died of asphyxiation.

forest fire which broke out in Aigües, inland to the north east of El Campello, on Friday afternoon was officially out 24 hours later after destroying an estimated 20 hectares of land. The work to tackle the blaze was hampered by the high winds affecting the area, but it was brought under control by 9 on Saturday morning after three fire-fighting brigades spent the night at the scene attempting to prevent the flames spreading any further.It was originally thought to have been started by a spark from an electricity line, but local Mayor, Pilar Sol, told Diario Información that that has now been ruled out and said negligence is the most likely cause. It’s understood that the blaze started near the balneario in an area which is popular with day trippers on bank holidays.The Civil Guard are in charge of the investigation into what caused the fire.Another wildfire in Millena destroyed 3,000 square metres of land.

Another axe attack on a homeless man in Fuengirola has been reported by Diario Sur this Monday morning, after the murder of a man, well-known locally, whose body was found with an axe buried in his head in a local car park last month.The second victim, a 51 year old man, survived the attack, but is seriously ill in the Intensive Care unit of Carlos Haya Hospital in Málaga. He is understood to be on assisted ventilation.Emergency services were called out to Fuengirola’s Calle Palagreros at around 4.30 on Monday morning, where the victim was found with a deep wound to his head consistent with an axe attack. There has been no confirmation as yet of any connection with the fatal attack which took place on Calle Antonio Rubio Torres in December.

Six people have been arrested in Valencia for kidnapping a businessman who was held captive in a countryside cabin in Chiva for six days before he managed to escape. Europa Press said one of his captors is an employee at the construction company the businessman owns.The victim was snatched on an industrial estate in Chiva and forced at gunpoint into the van which took him to the place where he was held and repeatedly beaten during his captivity. He was handcuffed and kept with a hood over his head after a first failed attempt at escaping, and threatened with being buried in a hole dug in the ground if the ransom was not paid over. The kidnappers were demanding a payment of 300,000 € to secure his release.He finally managed to escape and reached the Civil Guard barracks in Cheste to report his ordeal. None of the kidnappers’ names have been released, but it’s understood that at least three are from Colombia and two are Spaniards.