Authorities Take Action Over Illegal Houses

Spanish Newspaper El País has today revealed how six suspects have been arrested surrounding the construction and sale of over 300 Illegally build properties on protected land in Llíber, a small inland village of the Marina Alta with fewer than 1,200 inhabitants. One of the suspects is understood to be a British man, that the newspaper names as Trevor B.

The others suspects arrested by the authorities include a German man Michael W., and his sister, and an un-named developer from Javea. All of those arrested are alleged to have committed fraud by selling the properties illegal to clients, who were mainly foreign, without informing the purchasers of that they were no legal. They are also charged in connection with planning and development irregularities.

It is also believed that the Partido Popular Mayor of Llíber during the period in question, was previously charged with planning crimes in a case which is linked to this investigation for allowing the construction on rustic land to go ahead through licences issued for a different type of building project.

Also charged is the ex municipal surveyor, who sources close to the investigation quoted by the Newspaper said was responsible for giving a firm guarantee to the purchasers that the property they had decided to invest their money in was indeed legal. The former planning councillor was also charged in that separate case, but has since died.