“Doctor” murdered in Valencia

By Daphne Hilarides

A PERUVIAN man, 68, who had been accused of working as a doctor in Almeria without the necessary qualifications was found strangled in his bedroom in Patraix, Valencia.

There have not yet been any arrests, although the National Police has several hypotheses in mind, most of which are related to Andres Avelino Palomino’s troubled past.

None of the entries to the house were forced, so they suspect it was someone the victim knew well.

He was alone at home at the time he was killed, although he reportedly lives with a Bolivian couple.

He had earned his degree in Peru, and it had been validated by the Spanish Ministry of Health.

However, he had accumulated several police reports for working as a doctor without a license.

Prior to coming to Spain, Palomino had lived in France where he had had several problems with the law.

He was found guilty of working as a paediatrician and surgeon without a license, serving in jail for 18 months.

Later, he was arrested for the murder of three women, two of which had been found in the vicinity of Palomino’s home in Perpignan.

It seems that their murderer had made precise incisions on the bodies, making the police believe the killer was a surgeon. He was released from custody due to lack of evidence.

In 2000, Palomino moved to Spain and worked for the Andalucian Health Service in several towns, including Almeria, although he was eventually arrested in 2009 for working without a license.

In 2010 he briefly attempted to work again in Burgos, but was soon stopped.