The number of people so far detained in relation to real estate corruption in Estepona has risen to 25 and further arrests are not ruled out.
The mayor of Estepona, Antonio Barrientos, was arrested yesterday in connection with widespread corruption relating to the sale of land, granting of illegal building licences and other dubious practices, including money laundering.
Others also detained include the Councillor for Finance, Francisco Zamorano, the Councillor for Beaches and the PSOE number two in Estepona, Marisa Rodríguez Pino, the Councillor for Education, María Victoria López, the minicipal architect, Arturo Cebrián, and a whole bunch of lawyers.
The police operation, codenamed ‘Astapa’ (the old Phoenician name for Estepona), has its roots in the infamous ‘Malaya’ corruption scandal in Marbella.
It soon became apparent that the tentacles of corruption stretched further than the municipality of Marbella and investigations began into the real estate income of various political and other figures in Estepona. The real estate incomes of several Council members and their families were noted to be increasing at a rather disproportionate rate in comparison to their normal income.