The trial surrounding the last two mayors of El Campello has faced delays in the division of contracts, with a postponement to February. Oral hearings were set for November 8 and 10 but were suspended because one defense attorney had a conflicting hearing. Consequently, in July the court moved the case to another jurisdiction. February 7 and 8, 2024 appeared as the new target dates, though the court has only now confirmed the rescheduled timeline, coming a week after the original plan.
Among the five politicians charged, only the current mayor, Juanjo Berenguer, remains active in office. His predecessor, Benjamín Soler, did not participate in the March 28 election, running instead with Compromís as the first mayor between 2015 and 2019. The other names associated with the case include Alejandro Collado, a former councilor and head of services during the 2011-2015 term, and David Ramírez and Alfred Botella, who served as councilors in the 2015-2019 period. The investigation also extends to other officials who still serve on the City Council. The office of the mayoral services head is among those scrutinized for involvement in the period in question.
Berenguer has managed to reappear at the top of the voter list despite the ongoing judicial matter. In May, the Popular Party of El Campello argued that the case is an administrative evasion and forecast that the first mayor would be acquitted. The hearing was announced in early April, less than two months before the 28th of May, and a potential ruling could trigger a removal from the voter registry once final, though appeals could prolong the process for months or years in the higher courts.
The Prosecutor’s Office seeks a disqualification of five politicians for 13 years from public office. The United States adopts a 12-year standard in similar contexts. The claim also applies to civil servants, who would be barred from holding a technical role in any municipal corporation if convicted. The aim is to ensure accountability and prevent a return to office during a lengthy appeal process.
The Instruction Court No. 1 in Alicante recently decided to proceed with the oral hearing after nearly a year and a half, following a formal request from the Prosecutor’s Office and Esquerra Unida. The investigation, which began in 2019 on the basis of a complaint and was conducted by the special prosecutor, covers the years 2011 through 2019. Berenguer is named alongside former Councilor Alejandro Collado and Benjamín Soler, with two current council members also implicated. The inquiry also includes the official who led the Services area during these eight years, who continued to serve on the City Council during the same period.
The heart of the case concerns irregular payments made over eight years for the operation of a treatment plant in the northern area and for the maintenance of Central Park. The Prosecutor’s Office alleges a total of 380,000 euros, including 250,000 euros for the treatment plant and 130,000 euros for related services, though the office acknowledges that no direct financial loss to the City Council has been proven. The defendants maintain that their actions were lawful and justified within the contracts framework.
The judge authorized an investigation into six individuals who were implicated in the alleged irregularities, with signs of criminal activity cited in their performance. The prosecutors argue that political leaders and the named official repeatedly divided the scope of services to split costs into smaller invoices from various suppliers, such as Talleres Iglesias Campello SL for maintenance of the Centenario Fountain or Depuración De Aguas Del Mediterráneo SL for the same facility. Administrative contracts were structured to allow small direct awards when individual invoices fell under the relevant thresholds, except for maintenance and operation contracts tied to the treatment plant where cumulative annual amounts did not permit direct award.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, these actions violated core contract principles in public procurement, including open competition, transparency, equal treatment, and prudent use of public funds. Payments were made to the mayor and approved by the deciding authority, often expedited by prior steps taken by the defendants, raising concerns about accountability and governance in public service provision.
Defense
In their testimony from 2019, the last two mayors argued the necessity and legality of their actions regarding the treatment plant. They noted that maintenance responsibilities for the plant lie with the regional administration and that attempts were made to shift fiscal responsibility to the regional authorities, though these efforts did not succeed. They contend that the costs in question were not demonstrably borne by the municipality and that the actions were within the bounds of existing regulations.