A mere three months before the municipal elections the ruling PP party discovers evidence of dodgy dealings back in 2005.
The PP has been in power for over eight years yet, just three months before the elections, out come accusations of corruption against the ex-Mayor, Juan Carlos Benavides, something that has raised more than a few eyebrows not only over the content but also because of the timing.
Upon discovering the information, the governing party sent off a package, containing a 12-page report, backed by 99 documents to the Anti-Corruption Department in Madrid. This paperwork indicates that development companies wishing to obtain licences in Almuñécar had to take out advertising on the local TV channel.
The said TV channel, Onda Tropical. S. A., which was owned by persons “close to the Mayor’s party” was run by his own son. Furthermore the biggest share holder was the daughter of the party Secretary.
Since the 21st of January when this affair came to light, Sr. Benavides’ own party has made no declarations on the subject, something that surprises both the PP and the IU.
So, how did this ‘relevation’ come about? It has since been made known that the PP had received, anonymously, a copy of a bill for 174,293 euros issued by Onda Tropical to a development company just days after having signed a building project with the Town Hall.
This ‘arrangement’ reportedly occurred with 14 other building companies, each making generous payments for advert spots on Onda Tropical. The TV channel received nearly 500,000 euros in this fashion during 2005.
With this money, plus what it received from the Town Hall for advertising, Onda Tropical allegedly used it to fund the Mayor’s party campaign whilst at the same time broadcasting negative takes on the opposition parties.
We are waiting for a press release from Juan Carlos Benavides in order to provide both sides of the argument.
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)