Costa Tropical Gazette News » crime

Unwelcome Neighours

Editor — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:38:28 +0000

Locals are not happy with the pronounced arrival of Romanian Gypsies from the Levante. No fewer than nine mini shantytowns have sprung up near Barrio Los Alamos.

God knows that eastern Motril was never renowned for beauty but even the poorer estates in that area look like Mayfair compared with the fast-growing wood and plastic covered dwellings, within an even faster growing refuse dump.

According to locals, the first signs of a camp started to appear about a year ago – people living rough, surrounded by debris. Then came the summer and better weather, and with it a large influx of newcomers. By August there were three camp nucleuses and now there are nine.

After receiving a shower of letters of complaints from residents of the Los Álamos estate, for example, the Town Hall decided to set up a committee, including lawyers, to see what could be done – the Town Hall didn’t want to get its fingers caught in the widely flapping door of racism accusations.

Furthermore, several landowners (chirimoyo plantations) have registered their complaints that ‘individuals’ have taken them over. Accordingly, the municipal authorities have initiated an eviction process.

“It’s not a question of racism,” said the Vice Mayor, but of co-existence. We shall act, always, conforming to the law.”
The Local Police have identified around 50 people, who claim to be Romanian Gypsies. The Local Police believe that they have come over from the Almería area.

The fact is that the locals feel ‘unsafe’ and intimidated: “They have ferocious dogs that launch themselves at you – before our children used to play in the street, but now we prefer to keep them where we can keep an eye on them.

Conscious that it does sound a bit like ‘watch out the circus gypsies will kidnap your children,’ and thus traditional racism against Gypsies, the locals are very careful in how they word their complaints.

Drug Offences

Velasco Lawyers — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:51:33 +0000

Drug abuse is considered to be ‘the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes.’
Drugs are defined in the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, New York, August 8, 1975 (an international agreement for the prohibition of production and supply of drugs) as being substances which used improperly can lead to addiction.
It has since been supplemented to include Psychotropic Substances (drugs that affect the mind and can be used to treat psychiatric disorders) such as LSD, Ecstasy and other psychoactive drugs.
The Spanish Law 17/1967 of 8th of April adapts the provisions of the convention by considering prohibited drugs or genres as those including Cocaine, Heroin, Methadone, Opium, Morphine and Cannabis (hashish, hashish oil and marijuana). The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (BOE no. 270/1990 of 10 November 1990) adds provisions regarding money laundering and drug related offences.
The Spanish Criminal Code (Chapter III, Title XVII of the Second Book) amended by the Constitutional Law 10/1995 regulates Public Health offences and includes toxic, narcotic or psychotropic substances. This law also covers manufacturing, dealing, possession and drug trafficking.   Maximum sentences differ according to the nature of the offence for example, less for possession and more for production, trafficking, or for allowing premises to be used for producing or supplying drugs, also penalties vary for crimes related to hard or soft drugs. Prosecutors can prove your intent to distribute drugs just by the quantity of the drug, without any evidence that you actually distributed the drug. Imprisonment continues to play an important part in the crime policy of Spanish system. The maximum prison term for hard drugs is 20 years, and up to six years and nine months for soft drugs. In both cases fines can be up to six times the value of the substance.
These drug-related crimes are considered to be dangerous to public health, but the mere presence of a restricted drug does not necessarily constitute a crime if not accompanied by a certain risk that is regulated by the Criminal Code. The sentence from the Supreme Court in case 298/2004 of the 12th March, states that there must be minimum qualitative and quantitative amounts of the substances, and the sentence in the case 1889/2000 states that the quantity is insignificant, if it fails to have any harmful effects to health.
A report by The National Toxicology Institute, from December 2003, which was requested by the non-jurisdictional Supreme Court of 24th January 2003, lists the minimum doses for six psychoactive substances which are considered a crime.    According to the Plenary Agreement of Court II of the Supreme Court of 19th November 2001, the aggravating circumstances for large quantities of drugs are determined in article 369.3 of the penal code referring to the report from the National Institute of Toxicology of 18th October 2001, as being from 500 daily doses of each drug. These are exclusively base substances except for cannabis and its derivatives. However in Case 413/2007 of 9th May, a margin of error of 5% for the analysis of substances regarding weighing and purity was established, the judge or court can make the final decision as to the seriousness of the crime.
Articles 359 to 378 of the Spanish Criminal Code cover the laws regarding drug related offences. Articles 359 and 360 relate to the manufacture, supplying and trafficking of harmful substances, it states that the punishment for this ranges from a prison sentence from six months to three years and a fine of from six to twelve months, plus a special disqualification for trading for a period of between six months and two years.
The Criminal code also covers the lure, conspiracy and enticement to commit the crimes as defined in articles 368-372.
There is a reversal of the burden of proof, in cases where suspects are found in possession of a quantity of drugs greater than that required for personal use. In these cases it will be up to the defendant to prove there was no intent to supply.
It is illegal to distribute any drugs and the penalty is higher if the drugs have been tampered with or where they can endanger life or the health of people.   Manufacturing, growing or dealing with drugs can carry long prison sentences and these will be increased if there is a significant amount of the drug. Aggravating circumstances will also increase the prison term and/or the fine, and these circumstances are for example by providing drugs to children under 18, using under 16 year-olds to commit the crime, when the amount of drugs is remarkably large or when the drugs are adulterated in any way to make them more harmful.
The transfer and acquisition of property derived from drug related crimes and money laundering along with the manufacture, transport and distribution of precursors, which are substances used in the culture and manufacture of drugs, are also punished with prison terms and fines.    Anyone who uses their professional position for drug trafficking will not only receive the punishment according to the crime, but also be liable to the disqualification from that post and any vehicles used in transportation, or property that has been used in money laundering, can be seized along with the drug.
If convicted by judges or foreign courts for similar crimes as those mentioned in articles 368 to 372 of the Spanish Criminal Code, then these will count as being repeated crimes unless the criminal record has be cancelled. A judge or court can also reduce the penalty if the criminal confesses to the crime, agrees to collaborate with the authorities to prevent further crimes or offers information regarding the identification of other criminals.

MAS Security

David Darby — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:31:28 +0000

Burglary, on the whole, is an opportunist crime. A burglar will select his target because it offers him the best opportunity to carry out his crime undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his way. A building that presents itself as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one that is properly secured: Source: Metropolitan Police.
The MAS Monitored Wireless Security System helps protect your home through the use of a network that isn’t restricted by physical wires or barriers, thus offering a level of protection that can’t be matched by traditional systems.
With a wireless system, there are no wires to cut, so an intruder has little chance of entering your home undetected.
So, if the thought of running wires throughout your home has kept you from purchasing a security system in the past, the MAS monitored wireless system may be just the option for you. Installation is easy and requires minimal drilling.
MAS have 17 years’ experience of home security and customers have included members of the armed police and royalty. Whatever type of home you live in, MAS has an alarm system that will suit your needs. Our house alarm systems can be tailored to meet your specific needs or supplied as a set package; constantly protecting you, your loved ones and your home from unwanted intruders, fire, personal attack, flood and even carbon monoxide poisoning.
MAS Monitored Alarm Systems Tel. 634 817 020 www.massecuritas.com

Local Crime

David Darby — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:13:49 +0000

Once again crime became a talking point in the village, with reports of burglaries and attempted burglaries to several bars in the village, and even one or two empty properties in Carmenes have been broken into.
There was also a distraction offence at the Penña Parda end of the beach, where a vehicle was flagged down and the driver asked for directions, but on driving away the occupant realised that her handbag had been stolen off the front passenger seat. An accomplice had actually opened the passenger door and managed to remove it whilst she was being distracted.
This is not the first crime of this sort in the area recently, so please be aware and keep your eyes on your bags… with Christmas coming up you’re going to need all the money you have to afford to get that something special for your favourite Gazette reporter!

Spam Scam

Editor — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:48:16 +0000

The following email reproduced below is a scam that is being sent out to trick unwary Internet Users. The fraudsters are using a bogus Hacienda (Tax Office) email address, claiming that the recipient of the email is entitled to a tax rebate. You are invited to click on a link to obtain the necessary on-line form.

Don’t click on it, whatever you do.

From: Agencia Tributaria
Subject: Devolucion de impuestos
Date: September 22, 2009 11:09:46 AM GMT+02:00
Reply-To: aeat@restitucion.es

Notificación de Impuestos

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Por favor, envíe la solicitud de reembolso de impuestos y nos permiten de 7 días laborables para procesarla.

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click aquí

Un reembolso se puede retrasar para una variedad de razones. Por ejemplo, la presentación de los registros inválidos o aplicándose después del plazo.

Documento de Referencia: (92054568).

Hugging Mugging

David Darby — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:46:47 +0000

Talking of people up to no good, has anyone ever heard the expression ‘hugging mugging’? It was new to me as well, but apparently, a chap catches your eye, then approaches with a big grin and arms open wide, and claims to be a long lost friend. Then, making his apologies for mistaking you for someone else shoots off on a moped. Then you find that you have been relieved of your wallet/purse.
This scam obviously relies on the ‘touchy feely’ way of life here, but as mentioned before, be vigilant and unless you know someone, don’t allow them to get too close

Burglar Arrested

David Darby — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:11:54 +0000

The Local Police in Motril detained a local resident, J.F.C., as he was attempting to break into a house, whilst the resident, who suffers from senile dementia, was asleep inside.
The offence happened in , in Motril on the 22nd of June, where the offender was trying to force the door to the house using a large knife as a jemmy. But luckily, a vigilant neighbour noticed his antics and called the police.
The inept offender was still trying to gain access with his large knife when the police arrived and detained him. When they checked on the welfare of the occupant, they realised they would need the assistance of a family member, and called his daughter, who checked that all was OK before making a formal complaint and statement to the police to enable the prosecution of the alleged offender.

Violence at Santa Ana

David Darby — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:04:53 +0000

Two members of staff were assaulted in the Accident & Emergency department of the Santa Ana Hospital on the night of the 23rd of June. The offender is believed to be a youth, with previous convictions, who entered the hospital in a state of anger, and spoke with the two administrators, and then, without warning, started hurling abuse and lashing out at them.
The youth, who is a resident of Motril, identified as J.M.A.C., also attacked the Head of A&E as well as a security guard and was arrested a few hours later after the injured parties had made their statements to police.
Sources at the Provincial Delegation of Health said that the directives for the Health Service Management of South Granada pertaining to Motril Hospital activated their protocols against aggression towards staff and made a complaint against the alleged offender.
The two victims were interviewed and offered both psychological and legal assistance to their staff. A meeting was also called in front of the doors of the A&E department for staff to demonstrate their solidarity against aggression towards health workers in general.
The meeting was attended by the UGT (the union that includes health workers), and their delegate, Eduardo Muñoz, was vociferous in condemning the aggression against workers. He said that while there is absolutely no justification for the use of violence, the situation is not helped by the feeling of tension and stress felt by those awaiting treatment.

Reckless Driver Sentenced

Louise Powell — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:44:25 +0000

The reckless driver, who led police on a wild full speed chase along the N-340 last November, has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined 2160 euros. The Guardia Civil stopped the young man on the 14th of November last year at 13.20. As the officers started to approach the man he sped off at full speed and swerved from side to side across the road until he drove into some wasteland near the site of Vadillo in Motril. He then crashed into a ditch and overturned. The six-month sentence was for reckless driving and the fine was for the crime against the safety of others and for disobedience.

Police Raid Night Clubs

Louise Powell — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:16:12 +0000

Police raided two local ‘clubs’ in Motril and arrested ten women of foreign nationality for not having papers. Of the eight Russian women detained, two were immediately sent back to their country of origin, after having ignored previous expulsion orders. The remaining few, including one Columbian and one Nigerian, await similar fates.