A 50 year old British national has appeared before the magistrate in Torrox on charges of embezzling up to €300,000 during his time as president of the Capistrano Playa community.
M.B.T., a resident in nerja for twenty years, is married and has three children. He is accused of diverting funds of up to €300,000 during the past three years.
The Capistrano Playa complex consists of around 130 dwellings and was buit in the 1980’s. However, three years ago, problems were found with the foundations of many of the buildings and remedial works, valued at €1.2 million, were authorised. M.B.T. was the man responsible for overseeing the project.
The foundation work has now stopped as many of the suppliers have not been paid, and it is alleged that M.B.T. diverted monies received from for this project to alternative destinations. In addition, some homeowners claim that they had paid M.B.T. varying amounts to cover such things as taxes and electricity bills during their absence from the complex and that this money also disappeared and homes were left without power.
Many of the owners of the properties in Capistrano Playa are foreigners and only visit once or twice a year, making them easy targets.
M.B.T. was voted out of office on March 28th 2009 after a number of discrepancies were detected between monies or fees received and invoices paid for foundation work being carried out.