In Marbella, a municipal matter drew swift action after two local police officers were taken into custody on charges involving sexual assault. The accusations involve two women who reported the incidents, according to local council member Isabel Cintado, who chairs the Council on Social Rights, Equality and Diversity.
Responding to the gravity of the case, the city council announced an immediate measure: the suspension of employment and salary for the officers as part of the internal procedures that accompany serious allegations. This is in line with standard protocol used in cases of this seriousness, the councilor noted.
The council reaffirmed that, given the seriousness of the situation, the first step is the suspension of employment and salary as part of any procedure involving grave facts.
By Tuesday morning, the council had not yet received formal requests from the court related to the matter. A forensic investigation is ongoing, and officials said they would be meticulous in upholding the presumption of innocence while following the legal process.
Marbella’s Feminist Space stated that the accusations of sexual assault are categorically denied by the accused, and it urged the City Council to pursue strong legal action against the two municipal officials if the allegations are confirmed. The group also called for comprehensive support for the alleged victims, including medical, psychological, and legal assistance.
In their bulletin, the organization emphasized that women living in or visiting Marbella deserve to feel safe and protected. They urged Mayor Ángeles Muñoz to publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the events and to ensure accountability.
Meanwhile, Marbella’s Court of Investigation No. 5, acting as a provisional guard, ordered the two local police officers to be held in temporary prison without bail or notice. The charges include sexual assault, bribery, illicit negotiation of public officials, and crimes against private life.
The incidents are reported to have occurred on July 12, with two South American women in their twenties reporting them on July 31. The Marbella Family and Women’s Care Unit (UFAM) has opened an investigation into the case.
civil duty
Investigators from UFAM questioned the two officers on duty last Saturday, and they were brought before the court for remand in a temporary facility. Initial indications suggest the officers, on duty, confronted two women during a disorderly incident and requested identifying information.
Following this, the officers allegedly took the group to a secluded area where the alleged offenses occurred. The women recorded portions of their conversations and provided statements alleging coercion into sexual activity, possibly connected to the officers not reporting the earlier disorderly behavior in Spain.
Conversely, preliminary statements from the officers maintain that the interactions were consensual. Espacio Feminista Marbella notes that the municipality recorded eight reported cases of sexual assault between January and March 2023, a figure consistent with 2021 and similar to 2022 data.