A JUDGE has sent the mayor of El Ejido to prison pending further investigations over an alleged corruption case involving 12 companies in the town and in Sevilla and Madrid.

Yesterday, the eighth suspect in the case, Madrid-based business-owner Juan Antonio G., was ordered to remain in custody without bail.

And on Friday, judge Montserrat Peña ordered mayor Juan Enciso and the council intervention officer José Alemán to remain in prison without bail, accused of money-laundering, forgery, misuse of public funds, bribery, and power dealing.

They are joined behind bars by the mayor’s brother-in-law, Francisco Javier, A.C.; José Alemán’s brother Enrique; representative of the company Gestora Ejidense, Ambrosio Cuevas, and another businessman linked to the firm, Jesús Aragón.

Enrique Alemán and Jesús Aragón have been awarded bail in the sum of 50,000 euros.

Also in custody pending further trial are entrepreneur José Amata – director of the companies Arborimar and Maviroad – along with his son and two sons-in-law.

On Tuesday, 20 people were arrested and their homes searched, as were the head offices of 12 companies, following investigations into a suspected case of blackmail, fraud, money-laundering, power dealing, political corruption and embezzlement.