Prison for drug-dealing mayor

THE MAYOR of Torres (Valencia) Rafael Gil will serve an eight-year prison sentence for belonging to a gang of drug dealers.

The case came to light two years ago, with Gil facing as many as 19 charges for a scheme that shipped illegal merchandise across Europe in pallets that on the surface only carried fruit and tinned tomatoes… in the name of a company of which he was the sole administrator.

He would also have supposedly artificially increased government expenditures to launder the money he made. The trials took place this week, with the prosecutor initially seeking a 30-year sentence and payment of a €616,000 fine.

However, during the proceedings, Gil and his team reached an agreement with the prosecutors and plead guilty to the charges of drug trafficking, belonging to a criminal organisation, covering for the head of the gang, misappropriation of public funds and crimes against workers’ rights – all of which will keep him locked up for eight years.

Furthermore, he also said that he won’t stand down as mayor of Torres Torres, explaining that he believes he is doing a good job in the town hall.

Of the other 42 people acting as defendants in the case, 36 also confessed having committed their crimes and will serve between 13 months and eight years in prison.