MADRID, Spain (AP):
POLICE ARRESTED 30 people, including 13 former politicians, yesterday in the second phase of a crackdown on corruption and real estate fraud centreing around the southern city of Marbella.
Raids were carried out in different Spanish cities following an order from a court in Marbella and the anti-corruption prosecutor in Malaga.
A police spokesman said at least 13 former Marbella town councillors and people linked to Marbella city hall and building contractors were among those arrested. He said the operation was still under way.
News reports said the arrested could face a range of corruption charges, including bribery and laundering money from real estate developers, who allegedly paid exorbitant amounts for building permits in the southern Costa del Sol resort area.
