MALAGA — A court confirmed the former mayor of Marbella should serve six months in prison for breaking urban planning laws.

Julián Muñoz was convicted in March for breaking urban planning laws over the granting of permission for a beach front apartment complex in a protected areas of the Costa del Sol called Banana Beach.

He had appealed against the sentence but this was dismissed by the provincial high court in Malaga.

Muñoz is also to be banned for eight years from serving as a mayor or councillor.

This was the fourth court case which Muñoz, faced on charges of building irregularities.

His defence said  he should be released without charge as the building licence did not affect protected land, while the prosecutor called  for a year in prison and a ban from holding public office for eight years.

The case was brought by two residents of Marbella following the surfacing of a road in the Sierra Blanca urbanisation in the town.

Also accused in the case are the ex deputy mayor, Pedro Román, and his son Antonio who was the administrator of the company which owns the land.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news