The PSOE is seeking a four-year prison term against the Mayor of Estepona Jose Maria Garcia Urbano.
The Socialist party, acting as a private prosecutor, is accusing the conservative Partido Popular leader of misappropriation of public funds.
The accusation is linked to the hiring of a woman with whom he allegedly had a close personal relationship.
In its provisional conclusions, seen by EFE, the PSOE is also seeking eight years of disqualification from public office for Garcia Urbano.
The woman hired by the council faces a request for two years in prison and six years of disqualification, after being accused of acting as an accomplice.
Both defendants are also being asked to cover court costs, including those of the private prosecution.
The prosecution argues that both defendants should compensate Estepona Town Hall for salaries it claims were wrongly paid between February 13 and 28, 2023, and again throughout March 2023.
The alleged financial loss to the council is put at €7,862.89, which the PSOE considers the full amount of civil liability.
While Garcia Urbano has returned part of the money, the prosecution argues that this repayment was partial and insufficient, and should not be considered full compensation – though it says it could be taken into account as an acknowledgment of irregular conduct.
Allegations of no work performed
According to court documents, the woman was hired as an eventual adviser in the council’s External Control Department shortly after Garcia Urbano stopped making private payments to her. Investigators claim there is no evidence she carried out any professional duties during her appointment.
The court notes that she herself stated she never performed any work, had no office or designated workspace, and that there is no record of working hours, administrative files or interventions linked to her role.
Prior relationship under scrutiny
In its reasoning, the court refers to an alleged ‘intimate friendship’ between García Urbano and the woman.
It states that the mayor paid her around €21,000 between January 2022 and January 2023, money allegedly used to cover rent for a flat in Estepona and personal expenses. One month after those payments ended, she was appointed to the council post.
Case moves towards trial
The Estepona Court of First Instance No. 5 has ruled that the case should proceed to trial, stating that the facts could constitute a crime of misappropriation of public funds.
As part of the proceedings, the PSOE has requested additional documentation from Estepona Town Hall, including details of staff working in the External Control Department during the relevant period.
It also plans to question García Urbano, the woman involved, and several municipal officials, including Blas Ruzafa, the councillor responsible for the department at the time.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise by the court.
