The First Section of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas has ratified [the conviction imposed in March 2009 by the Criminal Court number 3 of Arrecife->25870] on the former mayor of Yaiza, José Francisco Reyes, for a crime of urban planning prevarication. According to Canarias 7, the Court has decided to maintain the ten-year disqualification from holding any public office, as well as the fine of 24 months at a rate of 36 euros per day, which amounts to the payment of almost 26,000 euros.
With this ruling, the Provincial Court ratifies the decision of the Criminal Court of Arrecife, which considered it proven that Reyes authorized the works to transform an old house into a restaurant, despite knowing that it was located on rustic land and therefore could not authorize it without requesting the pertinent territorial classification from the Cabildo. When the Court requested this classification after receiving a complaint from a neighbor, the Corporation responded negatively.
During the oral hearing, held on Monday, March 9, the prosecutor argued that up to three municipal technicians, in addition to the secretary and the president of the Cabildo, warned him that it was rustic land, but even so, Reyes granted the license.
In the trial, the former mayor literally stated that he did not read the reports he signed on the granting of the license and that, "in general", he does not read the documents. "I trust the officials and technicians, who are the ones who understand," he said, adding that "even if I read them, I will understand little because I do not understand urban planning or that type of law."
Other pending cases
This was the first conviction of the former mayor of Yaiza, who [is charged in several more criminal proceedings->31845], pending resolution. One of them made him remain in provisional prison for several months, after being [arrested on September 30->31732] at his home in Femés, within the framework of an operation that investigates the massive granting of illegal licenses in Playa Blanca.
During the interrogation in the Courts of Arrecife, Reyes [confessed to having received money linked to the granting of these licenses->32140], and even provided the name of several businessmen, although he later retracted his confession.
In this case, Reyes is charged with alleged crimes of bribery, urban planning prevarication, embezzlement of funds and money laundering. Last December [he managed to be released on bail->34608], pending trial.
In addition, we must add three other criminal cases that he has pending. One, for the granting of the license for the 1,000 homes in Costa Roja to the developer Luis Lleó. Another, for delivering nine licenses for the construction of homes on a rustic farm in Femés. And one more, within the framework of Operation "Unión", in which he was also arrested and subsequently released on charges, charged with a crime of urban planning prevarication.
Precedent for other trials
In the conviction that the Provincial Court has just ratified, the judge imposed in full the penalties requested by the Prosecutor's Office in terms of disqualification and fine, but did not accept the request for two years in prison that the prosecutor added during the trial. The lack of a criminal record was one of the factors that avoided the prison sentence.
Now, judicial sources maintain that this first conviction could weigh on the rest of the processes that José Francisco Reyes still has pending. And it is that in case of being declared guilty again, when imposing the penalty, this first sentence against him could be taken into account.
RELATED NEWS
[The judge considers that Reyes acted with "very little responsibility, if not none, in his management as mayor"->25930]
[José Francisco Reyes, sentenced to ten years of disqualification for a crime of urban planning prevarication->25870]
[Full text of the sentence->25917]