Operation Malaya

For the 1953 British film, see Operation Malaya (film).

Operation Malaya (Spanish: Operación Malaya) is the name given to an ongoing Spanish anti-corruption campaign in the southern resort town of Marbella. It began in 2006 and it is being carried out by the Policía Nacional under the direction of Judge Miguel Ángel Torres. The operation, now in its third phase, has the objective of exposing a network involved in concealing numerous illicit activities, (including bribery, embezzlement, and influence peddling) carried out by members of the Marbella City Council, businessmen, and prominent lawyers, among others. More than €2.4 billion has been seized so far. [1]

On May 3, 2007, singer Isabel Pantoja was arrested for possible tax evasion and money laundering, which she allegedly did on behalf of the former mayor of Marbella, Julián Muñoz. He has already been jailed as part of the investigation, along with more than 100 others.[1] Pantoja was later released on €90,000 bail.[2]

Background

In March 2005, investigations of the White Whale Operation dismantled the largest network of money laundering in the country. The evidence collected included intercepts of telephone conversations relating to cases of urban corruption in the Costa del Sol.[3] A year later, Marbella City Council was wound up, and was replaced by a management committee presided over by Don Diego Martín Reye, pending fresh elections.

Following the creation of this management committee for Marbella Town Hall, and after the arrival of democratic normality, the Andalusian Autonomous Government withdrew urban planning competition based on Article 31.4 of the Law on Urban Planning of Andalusia. This was according to the wording of the Law of November in 2005 which states, "by serious condition of the regional competition in management and planning, as contemplated in the Law on Urban Planning of Andalusia (LOUA)", as reported by the Minister of Public Works and Transport Board."

Related investigations

Operation Malaya opened the door to subsequent investigations into possible cases of urban corruption in Spain. While not all of Spain experienced such a high level of construction projects as the Costa del Sol prior to 2008, evidence of similar abuses has come to light in other parts of the country. There has already been consideration of what might be done to prevent similar webs of corruption in the future. It is widely acknowledged that the planning process in Spain could be improved to make the allocation of land for development more transparent.

References

  1. 1 2 Catán, Thomas (May 4, 2007). "Diva who sang her way to nation's heart caught in corruption net". The Times.
  2. ↑ Eatwell, A (May 4, 2007). "Diva Pantoja out on bail as Marbella graft probe reaches ex-mayor's lover" (PDF). El Pais and IHT.
  3. ↑ "Operación blanqueo de capitales puede tener vínculos con Yukos". 20minutos.es. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2012.

External links

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