Marbella corruption scandal claims first celebrity scalp 03/05/2007 00:00

3 May 2007

MARBELLA – The singer Isabel Pantoja appeared in court on Thursday accused of money laundering in connection with civic corruption scandal at Marbella city council.

Pantoja, the girlfriend of the former mayor of the city, Julián Muñoz, was arrested late on Wednesday night at her home nearby.

She is accused of offences against the Treasury and money laundering.

In July last year, when Muñoz was arrested at the couple’s home in Marbella, police found USD 50,194 and EUR 9,500 in cash.

Later,a judge ordered the return of the dollars but not the euros.

Pantoja, a hugely successful singer and later-day film star, was married to a famous bullfighter who was gored to death in the ring.

She later became involved with Muñoz, a former waiter who went on to become the mayor of Marbella.

Pantoja is the 98th person to be arrested in connection with the EUR 3 billion case which allegedly involved corrupt council officials taking bribes from developers in return for the granting of illegal building licences in the Marbella area.

Cash to the value of EUR 3bn was also said to have been laundered by groups of international criminals.

The central government dissolved the council of Marbella following last year’s scandal and the authority is now being run by an administrative body.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news