Costa Cálida
Suspect released after police questioning in Zerrichera case in Águilas
By m.p. - Nov 12, 2009 - 12:30 PM
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Jorge Sotelino escorted by police - EFE
The ex municipal architect spent a night in police cells before officers decided there was no evidence to implicate him
Jorge Sotelino Vico, the ex municipal architect arrested in Águilas on Tuesday in connection with the Zerrichera investigation, has been released after questioning by police, returning home on Wednesday after spending the previous night in police cells. Europa Press said he was not required to appear before the judge and it’s understood that detectives from the National Police found no evidence linking him to possible crimes in connection with the Zerrichera case in searches of his home and office.
La Verdad newspaper has revealed that investigators wanted to determine if a payment of 60,000 € Sotelino had made to the daughter of the Águilas Mayor was, in fact, payment for planning ‘favours’. Officers are reported to have been satisfied with the architect’s explanation that the money was paid for the purchase of a boat and berthing rights which Sotelino had bought from the Mayor’s daughter.
There had been concerns over the ex municipal architect’s links to one of the suspects in the Zerrichera case, and the fact that he was the architect responsible for designing some of the town’s major development projects.
The Zerrichera case relates to a development project which was planned for an area of protected land in Águilas and alleged corruption over the site being reclassified as suitable for development.