Report concludes Alcaucín ex-mayor was “not ignorant” of urban planning laws

The Arcos case trial has concluded, finding 33 of the original 44 accused guilty of wrongdoing in the issuing of illegal building licences on land belonging to the town of Alcaucín in the Axarquía.

At the centre of the case was former mayor of Alcaucín, José Manuel Martín Alba, who served from 1991 until 2009. During his tenure licences were issued to build 628 houses on land that was not earmarked for development.

In the final report, the trial concluded that Martín Alba was not ignorant of urban planning law and that all of those accused, contributed to the damage caused in this area of the Axarquía with the uncontrolled construction of homes. However, it signalled that it was the ex-mayor who fuelled the flames and that without him, this would not have happened. It added, he is not ignorant.

Among those accused of wrongdoing are a member of the mayor's family, property developers and the former boss of Malaga Diputación's architecture department, José Mora, along with other civil servants, architects, surveyors and intermediaries. The trial concluded that everyone involved was out for personal gain rather than thinking of public interests.

The final report went on to say that all of those involved, knew what was prohibited and what wasn't, but that the case wouldn't have happened without Martín Alba's systematic omission of procedures. The final sentences have not been made public as yet.

Current mayor of Alcaucín, Mario Blancke, said that the priority for the town hall was to save as many houses as possible.