Thirty days is the time limit a Marbella judge has given 79-year-old actor Sean Connery and his wife to pay some 3.3 million euros as security to cover any civil liabilities resulting from their charges in the Malibu planning case. The court has been investigating irregularities in the deals that led to the construction of 72 luxury apartments on land that was once home to a seaside villa, in which Connery and his wife lived for many years. The state auditing tribunal states that the deals allegedly caused the municipal coffers to lose out on 2.7 million euros. The 1986 PGOU (town development plan) that was in force at the time only allowed the construction of five houses on the land. The investigation has revealed that the profits from the sale of the plot were more than 53 million euros. Operation Goldfinger Connery’s alleged involvement in the case hit the headlines in May, when he and his wife appeared on the list of people the investigating court wanted to speak to in relation to the case, codenamed ‘Goldfinger’. The investigation included searches at the offices of the Díaz-Bastién y Truán (DBT) law firm located in Marbella and Madrid. Several lawyers from the firm are among the around 20 people who face charges in the case, along with former mayor Julián Muñoz and alleged Malaya ringleader Juan Antonio Roca. According to the judge, Ricardo Puyol, the law firm participated in the setting up of a network involving two firms, By The Sea SL and Malibú SA (whose joint administrators were Connery and his wife). This arrangement was allegedly used to commit embezzlement, corruption, influence peddling and fraud as well as to launder the “fat profits” obtained from the sale of the new properties. In the document that informs of the 3.3 million euro bond required from Connery the judge also refers to possible tax evasion and bribery. The document goes on to say that the present real estate complex is the result of three irregular planning deals. The first dates back to January 2000 and was signed by Julián Muñoz and Malibú SA, and the remaining two were signed by Muñoz and By The Sea between then and 2003. The former mayor and several former councillors have been called for further questioning by the judge on July 9th. All three deals involved increasing the permitted volume of construction on the site but none of them were taken before the council or the local government commission for approval. By The Sea appears to be a fiscally opaque company formed mainly by firms based in tax havens, according to the investigators, who claim that the profits are withdrawn as and when the properties are sold.

Antonio Banderas, one of Spain’s top Hollywood stars, has been awarded a doctor honoris causa degree by the University of Malaga, his home town, in recognition of his career which includes acting roles in 27 films in Spain, and 36 in the USA, as well as directing and producing several more and winning numerous awards. “I_don’t know that I deserve this”, he said in his acceptance speech, adding that he was “deeply grateful” for the honour. Banderas’ mother and brother both attended Wednesday’s ceremony in Malaga.

 Body found by trawler off the Costa del Sol
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By h.b. - May 6, 2010 - 7:28 AM
EFE archiveThe body was found off the coast of Benalmádena

A body of a man, in an advanced state of decomposition, wrapped in plastic, with an anchor around the neck, and with the feet and hands missing, has been recovered by a trawler off the Málaga coast, close to the Torrequebrada casino, after it came caught in the nets.

The fishermen took the body into Benalmádena Marina where the judge and other authorities arrived.

The Civil Guard says it is waiting for the results of the autopsy before continuing with its investigation. As yet there has been no news about the possible identity.


Read more: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_25993.shtml#ixzz0nE8zQgBh

Amy Fitzpatrick was 15 when she went missing in the Costa de Sol in 2008   Irish expat Amy Fitzpatrick was 15 when she vanished as she walked home from a friend's house on the Costa de Sol in January 2008.

Police have failed to find any trace of her since she disappeared




The million euro has been donated by four anonymous friends of ours 

This reward is for us to get Amy back one way or another.

Some days we hope and pray Amy ran away but we know that's not the truth.

Two years and three and a half months after her disappearance that's impossible.

Some days we think she's alive, other days we think she's dead.

Not knowing what's happened to her is awful.

We're desperately hoping Amy's still alive but if she's not we want to know and we want her back so we can grieve her loss and put her to rest.


The reward money will be

 

 made available

 

for a month

 

 between April 19

 

 and May 19.



We believe someone knows something about Amy's disappearance

We are going through hell and we want to find out what's happened to her either way.

The month means they have a time limit. If they're not going to give Amy up after a month after this long time, we think they never will.

We promised the cash will be made available to anyone whose information will lead to our daughter's discovery.

It will be paid 15 days after she is found alive - or 15 days after police certify her dead.

All calls will remain anonymous should anyone have information

HISTORY

Marbella Casino belongs to the Cirsa Group since 1985.

Cirsa is the first spanish company and one of the world leaders in the game and spare time industry. Part of the Nortia Corporation, has 25 traditional casinos, 53 electronic, 102 bingos, more than 100 game saloons and 63.000 recreational hotel machines in 36.000 establishments, all over the world. With a layout plan of over 15.000 employees, in 2007 had exploitation incomes for 2.200 millions of Euros. It is located in more than 70 countries and has invested more than 45 millions of Euros in I+D+i in the last 3 years. Cirsa is made up by four divisions of business specialized in each spare and recreational activity: Business to business, Slots, Casinos and Bingos.

How everything started

It was in July of the year 1978, when in the Torre del Duque complex, today known as the Gray D´Albión, in Puerto Banús, opened this doors the Marbella Casino, expanding that way the offers of the city to their visitors. The crowding that had to face who entered a game saloon was, in that historical summer, a clear sign of the expectation that aroused the opening.

Since 30 years ago, Marbella Casino gives to its visitors a wide offer in social activities, games and spare time with an unique environment: Marbella, the city with one of the best weathers in all Europe, and a distinguish destiny for those that arrive to La Costa del Sol. Marbella Casino has been identified, along time, as the most emblematic establishments in this marvelous city, that brings on a countless amount of tourists and new residents every year. From its opening, until today, the Casino has welcome more than 4 millons of visitors.

From the past until today

Training new professionals, and the close collaboration with cultural, sport and benefic institutions and organizations, characterized the trajectory of Marbella Casino until our days. From that small saloon in Puerto Banús, to the spaciousness of its current room, Marbella Casino has progressed with constant improvements to satisfy its public.

  Work on the new underpass has exposed the core of San Pedro Alcántara, at least, that is, as far down as a depth of six metres, the future route of the A-7 through this part of Marbella. The construction firm with the job of building the tunnel, OHL, has started excavation work to shape the double gallery that will run for a kilometre beneath San Pedro. The entire project , expected to cost 60 million euros, is already 75 per cent complete, according to sources from the Ministry of Development, who added that this time last week the machinery had already broken through some 120 metres to create the underground gallery. This amounts to more than ten per cent of the total length of the tunnel although excavation work is currently taking place simultaneously at four different points of along the 997 metres of future tunnel. The results are clearer at the central excavation points. There the still unpolished support piles resemble the columns of an ancient temple buried under the ground. There are two large rooms with high ceilings and three rows of pillars that stretch for several metres along the underground cavity. The excavation machinery jolts us back to reality, however. They work at a steady rhythm throughout the day and into the night. In January OHL brought in the night shift so that the tunnel works could continue round the clock. However the rain has meant that work has not been able to progress as fast as the firm would have liked and the night shift has only really been in operation since the middle of March. Ministry sources confirm that the rain “has caused a significant delay because the work has been practically at a standstill for three months”. It is only now that the project is picking up speed as more labour is being brought in after many of the 100 workmen who were busy on the site at the end of last year had to be laid off during the bad weather. In theory the delay will not mean that the project will be finished behind schedule and the estimated completion date is still the end of 2010 or beginning of 2011. Instead the pace of the work will be speeded up, both underground and on the surface. The aim is that in July, when the road surface above the tunnel has been replaced, the road will be reopened to traffic while work continues underground. However the Ministry pointed out that the road will only be open to local traffic while the southern bypass will remain open for vehicles wanting to pass through San Pedro.

 Cafetería Marbella is to reopen after a deal was struck between the owners "Casino Marbella" and Mar Event 2009 SL who have been granted the
consession. After renovation work has been carried out, they hope to reopen the doors for the month of July.

Mar Event 2009 SL have stated that they might take on some members of the old work force who have been in limbo since the Cafeteria`s closure some 9 months ago.

After watching this Youtube video, I went on to buy the DVD Christian The Lion at World's End from www.bornfree.org.uk  which I loved, then I purchased from http://www.bookworldespana.com/ the book a Lion Called Christian which is first class.

The British company says it has sold half of its stock of property on the Costa del Sol

British company Taylor Wimpey, has announced it is to invest 8.5 million € in a new second home real estate project in Marbella.

The investment comes after the company has sold 50% of its stock properties, thanks it says to aggressive pricing, selling 175 homes on the Costa del Sol last year where it owns enough land to build another 2,000.

The new project will get underway next month in Elvira, Marbella, and consists of 53 homes. Completion date is 2012.

The British pensioner couple saw their home in Vera, Almería, demolished by the authorities just over two years ago

After two years living in the garage next to the remains of demolished home in Vera, Almería, British Couple Helen and Len Prior have been ordered to be given a temporary home by a judge’s order.

Lawyers acting for the couple are claiming compensation from the local council for the loss of their home and also applied for ‘provisional measures’ to house them in a similar property to the one they lost, and it is these measures which the judge has ordered be met. The local council now has to find them a similar property or pay the rent on another one while the case is completed.

AUAN, Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora No, the protest group acting against the demolition of property in the area, reports that Helen and Len have found a suitable property, and are waiting for the council to agree.