Posters bearing Pepe Vegara’s image remind residents that he is due to appear in court for three days over an alleged tax fraud case.
One day before Orihuela mayor Pepe Vegara is due to appear in court accused of alleged tax fraud, with prosecutors seeking a seven-year prison sentence, the city awoke on Thursday covered with leaflets showing the mayor’s face and a message highlighting the dates on which he is scheduled to sit in the dock.
The posters state that the mayor “is obliged to appear in the dock to testify over alleged offences against the Public Treasury and Social Security” in connection with events dating back to 2005.
The oral hearing has already been postponed three times. It was first suspended in January 2025 because Vegara’s lawyer was unable to attend the court appointment. It was later delayed again in November of the same year due to a medical issue affecting the presiding judge, who ultimately postponed the proceedings for six months. As of now, the new court date remains in place.
“He won’t get away this time,” reads the final line of the poster, which has been left at numerous locations across the city, particularly on car windscreens.
Prosecutors Seek Seven-Year Sentence
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Vegara in his capacity as businessman, CEO and authorised representative of ITV Vega Baja. Three other defendants are also charged, two of whom are linked to the same company.
The prosecution accuses them of a continued offence of falsifying commercial documents and two offences against the Public Treasury relating to alleged VAT fraud and corporate tax fraud.
According to the indictment, Spain’s tax authorities failed to collect €917,935 during the 2005 financial year as a result of alleged “fraudulent manoeuvres and deductions” used by the vehicle inspection company. Of that amount, €760,539 corresponds to corporate tax and €157,396 to VAT.
The alleged offences date back to 2005, before Vegara became involved in local politics. The case became publicly known when the order opening trial proceedings emerged around the time his candidacy for the 2023 municipal elections was announced. Vegara, who now governs Orihuela with the support of Vox, had not previously made the pending legal case public.
PSOE Warns of Negative Impact on Orihuela’s Image
On Thursday, Orihuela’s Socialist Party called for “political responsibility and institutional stability,” as well as transparency, ahead of the start of the oral trial. The party also warned of the negative impact the situation is having on the city’s image, stability and institutional prestige.
Socialist councillor Luis Quesada stressed that the PSOE’s position is based on “absolute respect for the presumption of innocence and for the work of the justice system.” However, he added that “Orihuela deserves to appear in the media because of its opportunities, heritage and future projects, not because of judicial proceedings affecting its highest institutional representative.”
Following the previous postponements, the Socialists said they hope the trial can finally take place as scheduled in order to avoid prolonging a situation that, they argue, “causes political wear and damages institutional credibility.”
The party also said the Partido Popular should provide clear explanations about its political handling of the matter, including the disciplinary file announced months ago, the outcome of which remains unknown.
“The PP cannot simply remain silent. Citizens deserve transparency and responsibility from those who govern and from those who backed this candidacy,” the Socialist secretary general concluded.
SEE ALSO: Friday court appearance for Orihuela Mayor
