The prosecutor investing how an illegal rubbish dump in Nerja was allowed to grow unchecked for almost 16 years has excluded about half of the 40 suspects initially named.  The probe into the dump at Rio de la Miel began following a complaint in May 2016 and led to an investigation by a Torrox court after which the Junta de Andalucía initiated disciplinary proceedings against the municipality.

During years of uncontrolled use, construction and demolition debris including hazardous waste, plus garden cuttings and plastic were dumped there.  Over 40 people, including business owners and public officials, were under investigation by the Torrox court for possible offences including crimes against the environment, forgery, fraud and membership of a criminal group, plus negligent environmental and administrative deception.

Last month, the office of Málaga’s provincial prosecutor told the investigating court that it was proposing to drop further investigation into a number of business owners as well as three former Partido Popular councillors in Nerja – Jonathan Méndez, José Alberto Tomé and Antonio Garcia – and the PSOE councillor for infrastructure José María Rivas.  The territorial delegate for the Environment, Adolfo Moreno, is also to be excluded.

However, former Nerja mayor José Alberto Armijo of the PP and the present mayor Rosa Arrabal of the PSOE remain in the prosecutor’s sights, along with a number of others including seven business leaders.