Former Bigastro mayor José Joaquín Moya admitted on Wednesday in Elche’s Court of Section VII to charges of fraud and prevarication, accepting two sentences that total seven years of disqualification from holding public office. Each crime carries a penalty of three years and six months. The same sentence was handed to his successor, Raúl Valerio Medina, and to Antonio Saseta, who served as municipal secretary under both administrations.
The investigation revealed a scheme involving fraudulent agricultural contributions paid by the Bigastro Town Hall between 2003 and 2011. These false contributions benefited 47 residents, mostly women, who were enrolled in the Social Security Agricultural Scheme despite them performing no agricultural work.
The scheme’s purpose, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, was to grant the beneficiaries access to a range of Social Security benefits. These included non-economic benefits, such as health coverage, and long-term economic benefits, including lifelong retirement pensions.
This case highlights misuse of public resources for personal gain and once again underscores the need for accountability in public office in local politics.
