The Canary Islands join Marbella as property "black spots"

November 8, 2006

The mayor and five councillors of Telde in the Canary Islands have been arrested for corruption relating to planning permissions for new homes. Francisco Valido and five Popular Party councillors in Telde have been linked to charging illegal 'commissions' for building works. It comes months after the housing officer of the same council, Maria Antonia Torres, and others were arrested with regard to the same affair. The case came to light in March after a businesswoman claimed Torres asked her to pay a 20 percent 'commission' for permission to carry out works in the city. Since then, 18 people have been arrested, among them building developers and councillors. Torres is said to be central to the alleged scandal. The series of arrests have sparked two demonstrations from residents calling for the resignation of the mayor. The protestors called for 'transparency' in government. This is just the latest arrests in a series of scandals rocking local governments across Spain. The most serious was the arrest of over 30 people in connection with a multi-million corruption scandal in Marbella in March. For an extensive choice of legal and safe property for sale in Spain on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida, visit the Novocasa website.