Former Buenavista del Norte Mayor Acquitted in Long-Running Corruption Case

The Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has acquitted the former mayor of Buenavista del Norte, Aurelio Abreu, and the former municipal secretary, Francisco B., ending a legal battle that began in 2005. The two men had been charged with prevarication and embezzlement regarding a failed project to build a center for people with disabilities.

The case centered on the management of 270,000 euros in funding, including a 160,000-euro regional government grant. Prosecutors argued that the contract for site management, worth 90,000 euros, was awarded directly, far exceeding the 12,000-euro legal limit for minor contracts at the time. While the court acknowledged that the administrative process was flawed, the judges ruled that these irregularities did not amount to a crime. The court found no evidence that the defendants intended to break the law or enrich themselves.

The project, awarded in 2006 to architect Ramiro Cuende, was never completed. During the trial, it was revealed that the project’s technical documentation had been lost during an office move and was not recovered until 2012.

The case also highlighted the issue of judicial delays. The Public Prosecutor’s Office, which initially sought an eight-year ban from public office for the defendants, reduced its request to four years due to the excessive length of the proceedings. By ruling that there was no evidence of corruption and noting that the officials were likely motivated by a desire to serve the public interest, the court has finally closed a chapter that has overshadowed the defendants' careers for the past 19 years.