The trial of the case the West has started this Friday in the Hearing of Almeria with the acquittal of five of the 49 processed by prescription. Justice has taken a decade to sit on the bench to the half a hundred responsible for a network of politicians and businessmen around the El Ejido town Council (86.000 inhabitants), since in 2009 the police and the Tax Agency arrested a score of suspects, with the former mayor Juan Enciso (PP and then independent, between 1991 and 2011) to the head.

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Purse to the largest looting of public money of Almeria The judge renders to 65 people by the plot that looted The Ejido

The five processed left the room after the Prosecution withdrew the charges against them for a criminal offence continued negotiations prohibited. In total, the public ministry asked 1.545 years of prison for nearly a half-hundred processed —one accused died during the investigation—, reduced 44 people from this Friday. To a sentence of imprisonment, the district Attorney's office sum 99-year ban for 14 offences and different penalties for 884 million euros.

While Enciso faces a request of 64 years in prison for embezzlement, misrepresentation, bribery and malfeasance, the exinterventor municipal José Alemán is facing 64 years in prison, and businessman José Amate, former director of production of Elsur, appears to 97 years in prison.

The indictment estimates that deviated supposedly 71.5 million from the coffers of the joint venture Elsur, owned by the town Council of el Ejido (30%) and the multinational andalusian Abengoa (70%). This firm subcontracted to a thirty firms that allegedly inflated bills and charged for services non-existent. To change, the money the fruit of corruption was back to the politicians and officials through gifts. Since the construction of a farmhouse and winery for Enciso to bills of hotels and contracts to relatives of politicians.

This Friday the lawyer of the former mayor has asked for the annulment of the process for the violation of fundamental rights and undue delay. “The investigation began in march 2007 and is judicializó in march of 2009, but the secret about the phone-hacking will not be lifted until 2010 with reports in the press that have had devastating consequences on Enciso”, stated the advocate, reports Europa Press. The lawyer of the ex-comptroller city has also requested the suspension of the proceedings for undue delay and because the research was “prospective and widespread”. In addition to the office of the Prosecutor, are personados prosecution by the Tax Agency, the town Council of el Ejido, the PP and the United Left.

Date Of Update: 13 January 2020, 10:00