The Camarles City Council denounces the slowness and errors in the complaint for embezzlement of €750,000

The Camarles City Council attributes the embezzlement of nearly 750,000 euros to two former municipal officials. The judicial proceedings against the former treasurer and the former secretary auditor have proven to be extraordinarily slow and full of errors, according to sources from the council.

The case, which dates back to irregularities detected at the end of 2024, is causing frustration and distrust among the residents, who wonder how a process of such importance can take so long.

The irregularities and the judicial complaint in Camarles

What was detected exactly and how was the investigation initiated?

The municipal services detected financial irregularities coinciding with the treasurer’s retirement. A report from the Tarragona Provincial Council confirmed that the former treasurer was appropriating cash by simulating payments and increasing his compensation without justification, quantifying the damage at 709,411 euros. The secretary auditor also accumulates 32,499 euros of unjustified salary perceptions, according to the report.

How has legal action been taken against the former officials?

The City Council hired lawyers and attorneys and on July 1, 2025, filed a criminal complaint for the crimes of embezzlement, document forgery, and prohibited negotiations by public officials. The case is at the Court of Instruction number 2 of Tortosa, where the treasurer has partially acknowledged the facts and has returned 38,733 euros.

The slowness and errors in the judicial process

Why is the procedure so stalled and full of mistakes?

According to the City Council, the judicial processing is extraordinarily slow and full of errors that the hired legal services must continuously correct. These difficulties prolong a process that, due to its seriousness, should proceed more swiftly.

What consequences does this slowness have for local justice and the residents?

This delay generates distrust and impatience in Camarles, where citizens expect justice to act decisively. It also hinders the recovery of the embezzled public funds and leaves the responsibility of those involved unresolved.

The political involvement and the current state of the case

How does this case affect the mayor and local politics?

The judge has withdrawn the status of investigated party from Mayor Joan Curto and has summoned him as a witness. Initially, he was one of the three involved, along with the secretary and the treasurer, but now the investigation only continues against the former officials. This decision partially relieves the political pressure on the council.

What can be expected from now on in the resolution of the case?

Despite the slowness and errors, the City Council trusts that justice will eventually rule and that justice will be served. The residents remain attentive to how the process will unfold and whether the diverted public money will ultimately be recovered.

The Camarles case is a clear example of how a judicial process can become a bureaucratic struggle where patience is not a virtue, but a forced necessity. The reality is that the embezzlement of nearly 750,000 euros cannot be shelved, and public pressure will be key for justice to catch up.

Source of the article: Editorial / Catalan News Agency