Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Carlos Fernandez will not spend any time in prison. He fled Spain to avoid being charged with corruption in the infamous Malay Case in 2006.
Last month, the corrupt politician who lived in Argentina returned to his country.
He was taken into custody by the National Court after being arrested at the Madrid Airport.
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A solicitor for the former councillor told a judge in 2006 that his client was in Galicia doing the Camino de Santiago walk and would return ‘immediately’ if needed- but he never did.
The Malay Case, which saw the arrest and punishment of key officials in Spain’s councils for corruption, was considered to be one of the most serious cases.
Fernandez agreed to plead guilty after prosecutors pressed charges against him for embezzling of public funds and falsification of documents.
In a court hearing on Wednesday, he plead guilty to both counts and was fined €4,095.
He was also ordered to repay Marbella City Council, a sum of €258,678.31- a civil liability figure they had requested.
The Anti-Corruption Plea Deal Prosecutor’s office significantly reduced the original sentences. This included an year and a quarter in prison for embezzlement, and three months of imprisonment for document forgery.
The Malay Case covered corruption within the Marbella authority between 1991 and 1999 where €70 million was diverted via public and private companies in regard to illegal contract awards.
There was also an estimated €91 million defrauded from Social Security.
In 2013, the National Court convicted former mayor Julian Muñoz- now dead- and ex-urban planning consultant Juan Antonio Roca for embezzling public money.
Fernandez, who had reached a deal with the prosecution, returned to Spain in October.
Although he had been arrested in Argentina, judges refused Spain’s request for extradition three years earlier – despite it being revealed that he lived illegally in South America.
The Olive Press offers more Marbella News.
