Corrupt judge returns to bench

Wednesday, 04 January 2012 10:37

Written by Editor

The Marbella judge who was suspended for accepting bribes from Juan Antonio Roca, the alleged brain behind the Malaya corruption case, has been allowed to return to the bench. Andalucia's High Court of Justice sentenced Francisco Javier de Urquía (right) in March 2009 to two years in jail and a 17-year-long suspension, but last week the Supreme Court reduced the sentence to 21 months suspension and a fine of €78,000. Urquía has already been suspended for nearly three years and can now in theory return to the bench. However, his place in the Marbella court has already been filled and Urquía will now have to apply for a job at courts elsewhere if he wants to continue practising his profession. Then again, he may not be able to do so because there is another case pending against him. If found guilty, he faces two years in jail, another 17-year suspension and a fine of €145,000.