The Judge at a provincial law court has ordered the immediate capture of a fugitive building developer. The day of the trial came but the accused had already hit the road.

Pedro F.A. stands accused of having built an apartment complex in Alpujarra de la Sierra without any electricity or water mains. Consequently, the Public Prosecutor had recommended four years’ imprisonment and a fine of 9,900 euros.

But Pedro was not the only one standing trial, as the municipal architect, José Antonio M.T. faces a prison sentence of 18 months and being barred for nine years from holding such a post again.

According to the Public Prosecutor, Pedro F.A. as the legal representative of Proturex SL, was behind the construction in 2003 of the said apartment complex, and he did so knowing that the project had no basic services, such as electricity and water, yet he hid this information, according to the prosecution, when he handed over the 44 apartments to the new owners in 2005.

A Certificate of First Occupation had been issued by the Town Hall based on the recommendation of the Municipal Architect, who was also well aware of the deficiencies.

The unfortunate homeowners had no other option other than to pay for the electricity to be connected up from their own pockets in 2008, at a total cost of 43,358 euros.

The total inconvenience suffered by the claimants has been valued at 197,000 euros by a court-hired expert.

(News: Sierra de la Alpujarra, Granada, Andalucia)