It is a well known fact that much of Spain is totally corrupt as far as National, Regional and Local Government bodies go. Much of this, we suspect, has arisen because "Officials" took advantage of a Nation that had become democratic since the death of their previous dictator General Franco. What Spain now has, is not democracy, but rather a series of "mini" General Franco's in every National, Regional and Local Government building you care to enter or name.

These totally unscrupulous individuals have played on the fears of the "normal" Spanish citizen, particularly the elderly, to ensure that their "country" is run as they dictate, and not the populous wills, as democracy would dictate. These, often corrupt, individuals should be totally ashamed of themselves and their unscrupulous actions, often undertaken for purely personal financial gain - many of whom have risen from "nothing" to become multi milliionaires. Quite scandalous and unacceptable behaviour - we believe. Had these sad and corrupt individuals lived in the USSR, pre its breakup in the sixties,, they would have been taken onto the streets and shot in public - any rightly so - in our opinion. Sadly proving corruption, in Spain, is very difficult as witnesses are hard to come by - we wonder why?.
That said your Association will continue to strive to obtain such proof where possible.

One regularly reads about the "corrupt" deals that go on to ensure that certain "chosen" officials become very rich. Sadly, in the past twenty or so years this has been at OUR expense. Yes much of the monies involved in these scurrilous scams has been European monies. Spain has been the largest net beneficiary of E. U. funds since it joined the E. U. Much of that money was intended to help them develop a tourism industry - sadly much more was squandered to illegally pay the "chosen" ones, than was put to good use.

If you have not already read about the latest scandal to hit Marbella (yes this is not the first such scandal Marbella has been guilty of), let us give you an insight.

This scandal was so serious that the Mayoress and all the Councilors were dismissed from office and replaced by a non elected Administrative unit. This scandal is quite monstrous in proportion and one of the main culprits Juan Antonio Roca has a lot to answer for.

Juan Antonio Roca's previous position was in Cartagena, where his position was moderately well paid. He then moved to Marbella about 4 years ago, and now lives in what can best be described as a Palace, on a 1,000,000 sq. metre parcela. (Yes a million square metre parcela) Did they pay you well at Marbella Town Hall, Juan Antonio. Just exactly where exactly did your "near instant £ 1.7 million" wealth come from? We do not think the Police believe your story and neither do we. When the Police raided his "palace" they found underground bunkers containing millions of Euros.

Why do we not believe this "innocent" man? Well this individual was Marbella's Town Hall's planning assessor - a very privileged position. (Papers now suggest he may have ONLY been an advisor to the Council - if so exactly what did he advise the Council upon - CORRUPTION?) We now understand that this individual received, at least, 14.1 million euros (just under £10,000,000) from just three construction companies, between 2002 and 2005. This is the person who had the audacity to state, to the Press, "I am totally innocent - they have no proof whatsoever" We also trust that the Spanish Judiciary will deal severely with those sad, but greedy, individuals who gave Juan Antonio his fortune, in return for his giving them planning favours, to amass their own fortunes. (Is this sick

The latest news (28/09/06) as regards this individual is that now the Police believe that he acquired 2,400 Million Euros (about £ 1,680 Million - this illegal wealth remember was acquired in only around 4 years) from his devious and corrupt activities. Is this the sort of society that Spain openly wants or condones? Is this how other Town Halls in Spain function?
If so, we believe, that the time is right to stamp it out. Until such time as such openly corrupt activities are removed from Spanish life - democracy cannot, and will not, exist, by definition. Spain wake up and enter a new era.

Juan Antonio Roca is currently in jail awaiting trial. We hope that, if proven guilty, they put him in a dark, damp prison cell, let him rot and throw away the key. Life, or indeed Spain, should show no mercy whatsoever for such unwelcome, greedy, corrupt and callous individuals.

If your typical Spaniard has not got the balls to challenge such illegal activities then so be it, but your Association will not hesitate to spill the beans on any individual, Town Hall, or Government body that it finds involved in corruption. Additionally our findings will be passed to the appropriate European Union Departments as well. We find it quite incredulous that recently (28/09/06) the E. U. gave the green light for the entry of Bulgaria and Rumania to the E. U.
That said, the previous day they admitted that they had severe reservations about corruption in these two Countries.
Why on earth were they not more aware of the continuing corruption that exists within a founder Member State - Spain - where corruption is rife and a part of everyday life?

Your Association will not hesitate to advise the appropriate anti corruption units, when we have sufficient evidence of such malpractice. Indeed our strategy is to build fruitful relationships with these units. We have to conclude that the actions of Juan Antonio Roca are pretty typical, albeit his was on a much larger scale, of life in your typical Regional Office and Town Halls. It seems that corruption is currently an acceptable practice in Spain - we do not accept that premise and shall fight to obliterate such evil practice, which often results in the denial of a citizen's rights as decreed in European Law.

Sadly many other Town Halls in Spain appear to be so corrupted. These individuals believe they are above the law and will do almost anything to feather, or should that be gold leaf, their nests. These people should, and must be, hounded out of Office and put before the Spanish Courts. Only by the Courts giving these scurrilous individuals long, unpleasant prison sentences, will Spain rid itself of such openly corrupt, and often vindictive, individuals. If any of our Members have proof of such corruption, please let your Association know. That said we do require PROOF if we are to formally involve the
anti corruption units.

Your Association will do its best to assist wherever it can by reporting such abuses to the appropriate anti corruption units. We hope, that over time, we will build a trusted and meaningful relationship with them which, albeit slowly, will rid Spain of the cancer of greed and corruption.

Just as an aside, can you guess how the Authorities came to know about this scam? We understand Juan Antonio tried to avoid paying a debt accrued in a game of poker - the aggrieved spilt the beans. What we ask is "How many other people knew about this corrupt individual? Why did no one report his sordid dealings to the Police or anti corruption units. In a word FEAR. Spain has to rid itself of this infantile mentality, if it is ever going to grow into a true democratic Country.

Maybe, just maybe, this Marbella scam will be the start of a process whereby, those who commit serious breaches of Office and those who openly try to corrupt Government Officials, at whatever level, realise that this is no longer acceptable practice and are made accountable for their criminal activities. Such practices in future must be dealt with in the most serious way possible. Long jail sentences and the confiscation of their wealth is a pre-requisite of any such justice.
It will not need to happen too often before those, who may have been tempted, think twice before embarking upon such unacceptable, illegal and corrupt practices.