Former Benalmadena mayor Bolin on trial

FORMER Mayor of Benalmadena, Enrique Bolin, is due to stand trial this week accused of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation.
He will appear in Malaga Provincial Court to answer to charges that there were irregularities in the auctioning of vehicles removed from local streets, some of which were later used by the Local Police. He faces seven years in prison and a 14-year ban from holding public office.
The auction system was approved in 2005 in order to cover the expenses incurred by the town hall for keeping the vehicles at the municipal impound.
In November 2005, 11 lots of several vehicles were due to be auctioned. However, four lots were allegedly assigned to locals, one was returned to the owner following a donation and the rest were declared null.
This was done without the authorisation of the courts, despite the fact that several vehicles had been seized by the authorities. There were also stolen cars which had been recovered and should have been handed over to the insurance companies who had paid compensation to the owners. If found guilty, he may have to pay them back.