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Marbella Needs Another Corruption Arrest for Good Measure
Spain’s popular singer Isabel Pantoja was arrested late Wednesday in a construction bribery investigation in the resort town of Marbella. The year-long effort of detectives, codenamed Malaya Operation, resulted in 99 arrests, including the detention of ex-mayor Julian Munoz.
The news on Malaya Operation first emerged to the public at large in March of past year, when the police detained 19 high-ranked officials and big businessmen in Marbella. The more powerful second wave occurred past July and the third one happened past November.
The police spared neither former and current mayors of Marbella - Julian Munoz and Marisol Yague were detained on corruption charges related to the coast's booming property sector – nor top managers of Aifos construction company. The detained had to part with of ˆ2.4 million, pedigreed horses, ancient canvasses and other antiques received as bribes.
It looks like the operation has gained fresh momentum. A star in Spain since 1970, Isabel Pantoja, spent nine hours in a Malaga police cell after her arrest late on Wednesday. She is suspected of having registered in her name the real estate bought for money of ex-mayor boy-friend Julian Munoz.
The Malaya Operation has led to 99 arrests already and the hundredth detention is well-expected.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 04, 2007
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