Police of Madrid detain Marbella mayor in major corruption sweep

Police arrested the mayor of the southern jet set city of Marbella and raided town hall offices Wednesday in an investigation of corruption and real estate fraud. Authorities ordered some 300 civil servants out of the town hall during the operation.

Photo: Police of Madrid detain Marbella mayor in major corruption sweep

Raids were also carried out on the mayor's house and on the offices of a prominent business owner and several councilors in the city as well as those of lawyers in Madrid .

A police spokesman said 19 people were arrested, including the town's former urban planning director. News reports said the mayor, Marisol Yague, could face a range of corruption charges.

More than 1,000 bank accounts were blocked following the raid.

A police statement said information gathered in the raids showed several people had been involved in misappropriation of public funds, bribery, influence peddling and maneuvers to bump up prices.

Marbella , located on Spain 's southern coast, was a magnet for jet set and society figures from across the world during the 1970s and 1980s.

Yague's predecessor, the late Jesus Gil, was indicted numerous times on corruption charges, many dealing with real estate fraud in Marbella , reports the AP.

D.M.