Competa's ex-mayor in the dock

THE trial is due to start of Leovigildo Lopez Cerez, ex-mayor of Competa, charged with planning law violations.

Lopez Cerezo is accused of granting planning permission for land not classified for development.

Also standing trial are four councillors, a municipal architect and the town hall secretary Eight villas located in different parts of Competa were given planning permission between 2003 and 2006.

All should be pronounced illegal, claims the Prosecution department, which is calling for four to be demolished.

The former mayor allegedly connived with councillors and the architect to give planning permission for building works they knew were illegal.

Lopez Cerezo was found guilty of an earlier planning law violation and corruption in 2009.

Two years later he was barred from working in the public sector.

If convicted, Lopez Cereza could be imprisoned for two years term and faces being barred from holding public office for 10 years.