The PSOE's private prosecution demands 5.5 years in prison for José María García Urbano for appointing a friend as a temporary official in the Estepona Town Hall. The woman also faces two years in prison.
The private prosecution representing socialist councillor Emma Molina has submitted its provisional qualifications to the Estepona Court. It requests 5.5 years in prison for the mayor, José María García Urbano (PP), for two crimes: administrative misconduct and misappropriation of public funds. The origin of the case: the appointment of a close friend of the mayor as a temporary official in the council.
A mayoral decree for a friend
According to the opening order for trial, the mayor signed a decree on February 13, 2023, appointing Cristina P. B. as a temporary official assigned to the External Control Area. Her official role was special and trusted advisory, but in practice, according to the prosecution, she never performed those duties. The woman remained in the position until March 31, 2023, when she was dismissed.
For Cristina P. B., the prosecution is seeking two years in prison and six years of disqualification for misappropriation of public funds. The penalty is the legal minimum, as it considers her participation limited to accepting the appointment and receiving her salary.
A cost of nearly 8,000 euros
The hiring incurred a cost to the municipal coffers of 7,862 euros, including net salaries (5,276.92 euros), social security contributions, and other related expenses. The mayor has already reimbursed the Town Hall the 5,276 euros of net remuneration, a gesture that the prosecution interprets as an acknowledgment of the irregularity.
During the investigation, several witnesses testified that the appointee had no office, computer, corporate email, or access to the municipal platform. She lived in Córdoba, her hometown, and never visited the External Control Area's offices. A report from the delegated councillor of that area indicated that her role was to gather information on street cleaning, lighting, and gardening, tasks impossible to perform remotely.
Contradictory versions: cleaning or social media
Mayor García Urbano declared as an investigated party that the hiring was due to the need for the accused to monitor social media to detect residents' concerns. He justified it by stating she was particularly active on those platforms. However, witnesses pointed to street cleaning duties, which, according to the prosecution, evidences the arbitrariness of the appointment.
The investigation has revealed bank transfers from the mayor to Cristina P. B. totalling 21,000 euros for rent and personal expenses, prior to the hiring. There are also WhatsApp conversations that, in the prosecution's view, demonstrate the intimate nature of their relationship and the absence of work-related content as an advisor.
A case that affects trust in municipal management
For the residents of Estepona, this judicial process calls into question the transparency of public hiring. The mayor, who has been in office for 17 years, faces a sentence request that, if upheld, could remove him from politics. The prosecution believes the penalty is proportionate to the seriousness of the facts, given that García Urbano, as the highest authority, had the power to appoint temporary staff and used it to benefit an acquaintance.
The trial date is pending. Meanwhile, the Estepona Town Hall continues its usual work, although the case has generated intense political debate on the Costa del Sol. The mayor's defence has not yet presented its provisional conclusions, but it is expected to deny the accusations and defend the legality of the appointment.
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