This morning the Court acquitted the Alicante municipal official who was tried this week for an allegation. embezzlement of public funds related to 118.80 euros for alleged resale of tickets to take the elevator to Santa Bárbara Castle. The presiding judge, Julio Úbeda, acquitted “by vote” after the popular jury delivered a verdict declaring the defendant not guilty of the accusations of the Prosecutor’s Office and the City Council.
The verdict of acquittal was given by seven votes in favor of the nine members of the jury, and the deliberation lasted approximately two hours. The acquitted defendant, who was temporarily in office when the events occurred but later obtained a permanent position in the Alicante City Council, took up his defense at the hearing. lawyer Guillermo Loureiro from Cristina Holgado’s office.
The jury spokesman read the verdict and stated that they did not think it had been proven that he had resold the lift tickets. For this, they took into account the defendant’s denial of the facts in his statement at the hearing and stated that they did not find the City Council’s procedure “sufficient” in case the defendant refused to sign the document.
There is no evidence
In its decision, the popular court also took into account that none of the defendant’s co-workers presented direct evidence about the actions attributed to the officer and estimated that: there are not enough indicators proving the resale of the entry by the defendant. They even stated that some witnesses acknowledged that this person could have been anyone.
After the verdict was read, the jury court president predicted the sentence “as a vote” and decided to acquit the defendant of the crimes. embezzlement of public funds and unfair management That’s what the prosecutor’s office and the Alicante City Council accuse him of.
The facts, which were declared not proven by the jury, date back to February and March 2020. The accusations allege that the official resold access tickets to the lift facilities and held a total of 118.80 euros He said 44 tourists paid him 2.70 euros per person to use the castle’s elevator.