By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The former mayor of Gaucín, Francisco Corbacho, who had first sat as an independent then as a member of the Partido Andalucista, has been found guilty of town planning offences. He was in the dock along with the municipal architect, three current councillors and two ex-councillors. They were accused of between 2000 and 2003 granting planning licences for land which in some cases was protected.
All the accused except one councillor were given a fine of 12 euros a day for 21 months plus are barred from holding public office for nine years. The other councillor has a lesser sentence of 12 months of fines plus seven years ban from office because he only participated in one of the cases involved with the licences.
This is one of the first cases that has involved a municipal architect. Francisco Arenas had worked at the town hall from 1988 and had given permission for the projects to proceed whilst fully aware that to do so was against the planning law. The plans had been signed by his daughter.
The three sitting councillors barred from office are Francisco Medicina, Francisco José Macías and Carmen Cantudo. All currently are independents but had previously been associates of Corbacho in the Partido Andalucista. The two former councillors also represented the PA.
Ex mayor Francisco Corbacho already has a previous conviction for embezzlement and obstructing justice plus planning to misappropriate public funds dating back to 2008. The Supreme Court had suspended his employment in public office, handed down a nine month fine and also barred him from office for seven years.
BENAOJÁN AND MONTEJAQUE HAVE NO DRINKING WATER
Málaga province has stepped in to give urgent aid to the 2,600 residents of Benaoján and Montejaque who have no drinking water.
The Serranía de Ronda villages discovered last Friday that their water supply was not fit for human consumption. The president of the Málaga province authority, Elías Bendodo along with the deputy for the environment, Juan Jesús Bernal, met on Monday with the mayors of the two communities.
The regional government says that three tests have been carried out in recent days on the Molino Santo well and serious contamination was found. At present this contamination has not spread to the water supply.
Whilst the problem is sorted out the residents are thankful that their neighbours are the Spanish Legion whose barracks are nearby. The military have offered three vehicles that can carry 2,000 litres of water each to supply the 1,600 people in Benaoján and the 1,000 in Montejaque.
GHANA VISIT
The Ambassador of Ghana in Spain, Fidelis W Yao Ekar, last week visited the town of Ronda and met with the mayor Marípaz Fernández. He had travelled to the town of the Tajo with his wife to offer thanks for the work of the Associación de Cooperación Internacional Solidaria ‘Sierra de las Nieves’ which gives aid to hospitals in the West African country.
WORKER BATTLE
Ronda recently declared war on its workers in the municipal companies cutting their budgets, suspending agreements and withdrawing social help. Now it is the turn of those employed at the town hall to feel the heat as the Partido Popular –PA administration attempts to slash costs. The unions are furious at the announcement that municipal employees either accept cuts or will be sacked.
DRUGS TRIO
Guardia Civil from Ronda have seized over 30 kilos of marijuana found at three dwellings in Benaoján. Officers have also arrested three people from the village who have been charged with owning the drugs, cultivating the plants, preparing them for sale and trafficking. They also confiscated 800 euros in cash and the equipment used in weighing the marijuana and running the sales outlets.
POOR HARVEST
Lack of rain and the summer heat has badly affected the chestnut harvest in the Genal Valley and elsewhere in Málaga province. Growers predict they’ll only gather half the crop of chestnuts this year compared with last of 3.9 million kilos. The chestnut is a major source of income in Igualeja and 70 per cent will be exported to Italy, Germany and France.
A CORKER
Celebrations amongst the 210 town hall workers and those employed in gathering the annual cork harvest in Cortes de la Frontera. Their last pay packet was for June but now the town hall is to settle the salaries owed for July, August and September. This has been made possible as 1.2 million euros has been banked from the sale of the cork collected.
WAR HOMAGE
On All Saints Day families visit the cemetery to pay tribute to their deceased relatives. However in Ronda it was also the day the Asociación Memoria Hístorica paid homage to those who were killed during the Civil War. The association is campaigning for all those buried in common graves in Ronda to be identified and then given the dignity of a proper burial.
HURRY UP
The mayor of Ronda has called on the regional government to speed up the process of making Serrato and Montecorto the 102 nd and 103 rd municipalities in Málaga province. In May the green light was given for the villages to pass from ELA self administrating entities to full municipalities but it could take up to two years them to become totally independent.
CHURCH THEFT
On Saturday night one or more thieves broke in to San Antonio’s church in the Dehesa area of Ronda and stole 200 euros. Damage was also caused to the church building. The raid was discovered on the Sunday morning when the priest arrived to say mass. Police are investigating and believe the culprits tried to make off with some of the religious images.
