The Mayor of La Linea de la Concepción, Juan Carlos Juárez (PP), has been sentenced to six months ‘suspension’ from office and fined €720 for ‘obstruction of justice’.
In 2001, Juan Carlos Juárez was ordered to pay the company Palex a total of €1,184,000, a Council debt relating to the supply of dialysis equipment. The debt was never paid and on December 12th 2008, Juárez was tried on charges of breaching the 2001 sentence.
Juárez argued that his attempts to pay the debt at the time were hampered by the fact that the Council didn’t have the money.
Juan Carlos Juárez made a statement that, whilst he respects the decision of the court, he does not agree with it and will begin appeal proceedings as soon as he receives official notification of the ruling.