The Mayor of Almuñécar, Juan Carlos Benavides, is in court accused of the crime of coercion, the charges relating to an incident in 2004,
In April 2000, Medios Informativos Costa Tropical S.L. were awarded the contract to provide local TV for the area, the contract running for four years.
In January 2004, the Council suspended the contract and agreed sanctions against the company and, without prior notification or warning, the Mayor allegedly changed the locks and cut the power supply to the premises being used by Medios Informativos Costa Tropical S.L.
The prosecution is requesting a prison sentence of two and a half years and a fine of €36,000.