Velez-Malaga chief of police cleared of assault

VELEZ MALAGA – THE Chief of Local Velez-Malaga Police, Jose Andres Montoya de Hombre, has been acquitted by Malaga Provincial Court of the alleged crime of assault against one of his neighbours. In February 2009, the neighbour was admitted to hospital with various injuries – including to the neck and eight lost teeth – from which he spent 30 to recover.

The two men have a history of bad relations, but the Police Chief denied causing the injuries.

The judge ruled that it could not be proven “beyond reasonable doubt” that the injuries had been caused by the accused.

Local Police Councillor Juan Herrera expressed his satisfaction at the ruling and reiterated his support for the Police Chief.

Jose Montoya thanked everybody for their support, especially Mayor Maria Salome Arroyo who “always believed in my innocence and kept my job open despite repeated calls from the opposition, and in particular former Public Safety Officer Antonio Arrieta who called me ‘Evil Robocop’.”

“Señor Arrieta took this opportunity to attempt to harm me professionally and focused on the testimony of a neighbour who has been in prison and has a history of drug trafficking.”

“I think he was creating a smoke-screen to hide his disastrous tenure, of which I can produce documents.”

The prosecution requested a two-year prison sentence and €7,375 compensation, and will now appeal to the Supreme Court.