THE current mayor of Polop (Alicante) has been arrested in connection with the murder inquiry of former mayor Alejandro Ponsoda in November 2007. 

Juan Cano, leader of the PP – Ponsoda's party prior to his death – was arrested in the early hours of this morning by the Guardia Civil at his home in the La Paz urbanisation in the outskirts of the village.

Polop residents are said to be 'stunned' by the arrest, the seventh person to be taken in for questioning in relation to the fatal shoot-out on the victim's doorstep two years ago.

So far, a 34-year-old man from Albatera (Alicante) who reportedly has an existing criminal record for drugs- and arms-related offences, together with the owner of a shoe-making firm and the boss of a brothel in Finestrat, have been arrested.

Two Czech nationals, including the bouncer from the former's erotic nightclub, and another brothel-owner have also been questioned.

To date, four of the suspects are being held in custody after having given statements to a judge.

Ponsoda's murder in the dead of night as he got out of his car in the nearby village of Xirles caused an outcry among the 4,100 inhabitants of Polop, a very close-knit community with a cosmopolitan mix of residents.

Ponsoda, 55, had been part of the local council for 40 years, and had two daughters, now aged 27 and 29.

One of his daughters was expecting his grandchild at the time of his death.

After Ponsoda's assassination, Juan Cano became mayor, the first time the town had seen a new head of its council since 1995.