German accuses former Polop mayor of extortion

EROL PASTRANA, a German hotel owner, has presented a criminal complaint against former Polop Mayor, Juan Cano, for threats, extortion, bribery and perversion of the justice. Pastrana claims he had to pay by way of extorted bribe to Cano, who was planning councillor at the time, 5 million pesetas to obtain a licence from the Town Hall to permit renovations to his hotel.

It is also claimed by the complainant that he was summoned to the office of Cano in 2001 after he had applied for permission to carry out works on his hotel and at that meeting it has been alleged that Cano demanded €500,000 for the permissions.

It is further alleged that if the payment was not forthcoming that the hotel would be closed.

It was stated by Pastrana that he closed the hotel and was apparently made to erect a sign outside the building saying “This hotel is illegal. Prospective purchasers must go to the Town Hall”.
Pastrana alleges that he has received numerous phone calls with death threats to himself and threats to kidnap his children since his confrontation with Cano began.

Juan Cano is a suspect in the case which is investigating the murder of his predecessor as Mayor, Alejandro Ponsoda, and also a defendant in another corruption case with the former municipal engineer, Juan Martia Vicente Albinana.

By Paul Deed

 

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