Operation Malaya
This article needs to be updated.(October 2018) |
Operation Malaya (
On May 3, 2007, singer Isabel Pantoja was arrested for possible tax evasion and money laundering, which she allegedly did on behalf of the former mayor of Marbella, Julián Muñoz. He has already been jailed as part of the investigation, along with more than 100 others.[1] Pantoja was later released on €90,000 bail.[2]
Background
In March 2005, investigations of the White Whale Operation dismantled the largest network of money laundering in the country. The evidence collected included intercepts of telephone conversations relating to cases of urban corruption in the Costa del Sol.[3] A year later, Marbella City Council was wound up, and was replaced by a management committee presided over by Don Diego Martín Reye, pending fresh elections.
Following the creation of this management committee for Marbella City Hall, and after the arrival of democratic normality, the
Related investigations
Operation Malaya opened the door to subsequent investigations into possible cases of urban corruption in Spain. While not all of Spain experienced such a high level of construction projects as the Costa del Sol prior to 2008, evidence of similar abuses has come to light in other parts of the country. There has already been consideration of what might be done to prevent similar webs of corruption in the future. It is widely acknowledged that the planning process in Spain could be improved to make the allocation of land for development more transparent.
References
- ^ a b Catán, Thomas (May 4, 2007). "Diva who sang her way to nation's heart caught in corruption net". The Times. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011.
- ^ Eatwell, A (May 4, 2007). "Diva Pantoja out on bail as Marbella graft probe reaches ex-mayor's lover" (PDF). El Pais and IHT.
- 20minutos.es. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
External links
- City Mayors: Corruption in Marbella, Daniel González Herrera, CityMayors.com
- Spain's biggest corruption trial ends with 53 people convicted, 4 October 2013, Paul Hamilos, The Guardian