High Court judge, Baltasar Garzón, has ordered a full investigation into the granting of licences to build a marina in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and to develop two plots of rural land in the Tahodio valley.

Under investigation for "allegedly requesting or receiving quantities of cash" in relation to these projects are: Santa Cruz mayor, Miguel Zerolo (photo), the president of Santa Cruz port authorities, Luis Suárez Trenor, urbanisation consultant, Herminia Gil, and the president of the San Andrés y Anaga residents' association.

The case came to light during the ongoing investigation into the Fórum Filatélico corruption scandal as also implicated are: former Fórum president, Francisco Briones, who was released on bail last August, former general director, Juan Ramón González Merino, and the organisation's accountant, Juan Ramón González.

It would appear that the illegal payments to a number of local dignitaries including the mayor, who denies receiving a payment of €3 million on behalf of the Coalición Canaria party he represents, were made by the Parque Marítimo Anaga company that is a subsidiary of Fórum Filatélico.

The state prosecution service also implicates José Manuel Carlos Llorca, who has already been convicted of durgs trafficking and money-laundering, in the affair.