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The alleged leader of an illegal scrap metal sales ring at Orihuela City Council has invoked his right not to testify during a court session. This follows a failed attempt to question him in December 2023.
The official, an employee of the council since 1982, is now under investigation for alleged embezzlement. He is alleged to have been involved in the illegal sale of scrap metal, including the valuable sculptures.
In May 2023, the National Police initiated an investigation into the sale of scrap metal from municipal projects, including streetlights and furniture, without contracts or entries in municipal accounts.
A key event in the investigation occurred on March 17, 2023, when five steel and copper sculptures, originally donated in 2008 by the Muher firm in honour of Miguel Hernández’s death anniversary, were sold for just €940.
The sculptures, valued at €250,000, were removed from public display and stored at municipal offices near the Local Police Station before being sold to a scrapyard.
Despite their cultural and economic value, the sculptures were sold by weight for a fraction of their worth, and the payment was not recorded in the city’s accounts.
The suspect, a public employee, claimed ignorance of the transaction and denied giving instructions to recycle the materials. He acknowledged being assigned to various municipal departments but denied knowledge of the storage or sale of the sculptures.
He explained that he had ordered workers to clean the area, classify useful materials, and discard others, though he denied being present when the sculptures were loaded for sale. However, he admitted that the payment for the sale was made in cash, and the funds were used for personal expenses, including air conditioners and televisions for municipal staff buildings.
The investigation found that this practice had been occurring since at least 2019, with metal and other items regularly sold to scrapyards.
The Partido Popular (PP), which filed the complaint that led to the investigation, provided videos showing the transfer of the sculptures.
The PP revealed that other municipal assets, including items from coastal warehouses, had also been sold without proper documentation.
The sale of these materials occurred without administrative procedures or entries in municipal accounts, further indicating widespread misconduct within the council.
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