A mysterious fire broke out in the records department of the most indebted town hall in the whole of Spain, which has caused a few raised eyebrows.

The Town Hall of Los Palacios in the province of Sevilla has a debt of some 100m euros, which is quite impressive for a town with just under 38,000 inhabitants.

The previous mayor, Antonio Maestre (PSOE) has been accused by the Public Prosecutor of nepotism and embezzlement of public funds; he allegedly made impressive payments to a fictitious company and granted juicy contracts to his father-in-law. He also stands accused of misappropriating 837,000 euros.

And then came the fire, at five in the morning, that wiped out all the filed bills and receipts… The Policia Local had been called out 15 minutes before to attend to a security alarm having gone off in a nearby hamlet belonging to the municipality. Finally, the cleaner reported having heard a load bang just before the fire was discovered.

Now, unsurprisingly, many believe that the fire was arson with the intention of destroying possible incriminating evidence. The IU, who now govern the Town Hall said as much and the PSOE has immediately decided to sue them for slander. Some months ago the present Mayor, Juan Manuel Valle, had announced that he was going to have the municipal account for the period of 2006 to 2011 investigated by the judge.

As if this is not all enough, another recent scandal washed through the town when it was discovered that the socialist ex-councillor, Rosario Ayala, had acquired for her personal use a flamenco gown at municipal expense, bless her poker-dot socks.

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(News: Los Palacios, Sevilla, Andalucia)