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      • post_date2017-03-21 09:11:52
      • post_date_gmt2017-03-21 08:11:52
      • post_contentUn enorme cartel publicitario en la ladera de la montaña daba la bienvenida a Marbella. "Bienvenido a territorio MacAnthony". MacAnthony es <strong>Darragh MacAnthony, </strong>un halcón del negocio inmobiliario nacido en 1976 en Dublin que desde la Costa del Sol vendía promociones en España, Bulgaria, Marruecos, Turquía o Cabo Verde. En el Reino Unido es <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/10/peterborough-chairman-darragh-macanthony-attack-players" target="_blank">famoso por tuitear contra los futbolistas</a> del club que posee, el <strong>Peterborough United</strong>, en la tercera división inglesa, pero en la Costa del Sol lo conocen las decenas de británicos que le han denunciado por estafa con las promociones inmobiliarias con las que, dicen, les sacaba el dinero. Denuncian que la sociedad de MacAntonhy se esfumó de la noche a la mañana gracias a un nonagenario que asumió la titularidad llamado <strong>Fernando Arespacochaga del Olmo</strong>, sobrino del asesor fiscal de la 'jet' <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/papeles-panama/2017-03-15/offshore-arespacochaga-asesor-fiscal-madrid-bahia_1346219/" target="_self">investigado por seis juzgados</a> <strong>Joaquín de Arespacochaga</strong>. Fútbol profesional, Marbella, testaferros, <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/papeles-panama/" target="_self">Papeles de Panamá</a>... Aquí no falta de nada. El juzgado de instrucción 4 de Marbella investiga desde 2011 a MacAnthony y a su sociedad MacAnthony Reality International Spain. Decenas de británicos se querellaron contra él por estafa, blanqueo y apropiación indebida. Denuncian que les vendía casas en lujosas promociones prometiendo <strong>"una revalorización anual del 15%"</strong>. Aseguran que no solo cobraba anticipos por las viviendas, que en unos casos no llegaban a terminarse, sino que les cobraba otros servicios auxiliares con otras empresas. "MRI Lifetime, que es un servicio de instalación y mobiliario de los apartamentos, costaba 265 euros al año. Sorprende que les haga pagar por la instalación de muebles y el mantenimiento de la vivienda incluso mucho antes de que la misma esté construida", sostiene la querella del abogado <strong>Sergio García Bravo</strong>, que su sumó al procedimiento el verano de 2016. <article class="article-related h-related" data-related-analytic-event=""><figure class="figure-related"><img class="img-related-preview" src="http://3www.ecestaticos.com/imagestatic/clipping/3f9/fcd/3f9fcdcb55d4a205e4e0842ff50f231e/la-marana-offshore-de-arespacochaga-seis-juzgados-cercan-al-asesor-de-la-jet.jpg?mtime=1489517239" width="483" height="270" /></figure> <h3 class="title-related">La maraña 'offshore' de Arespacochaga: seis juzgados cercan al asesor de la 'jet'</h3> <a class="related-link" href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/papeles-panama/2017-03-15/offshore-arespacochaga-asesor-fiscal-madrid-bahia_1346219/"><span class="sign-related">DANIELE GRASSO</span></a> <div class="text-related">Esta es la historia de un abogado, inspector y asesor fiscal, escritor y filósofo que habría hecho posible el desvío de fondos del caso Bahía</div> </article>El pleito lo comenzó el abogado <strong>Luis Fernando González</strong>, del despacho <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/" target="_blank">Lawbird</a>, especializado en Marbella a defender a británicos de las múltiples estafas que han sufrido. En nombre de 49 compradores les denunció por <strong>apropiación indebida y/o estafa</strong> por unos muebles que, decían, nunca llegó a proporcionarles y por los que <strong>reclamaban 492.495 euros</strong>. El abogado de MacAnthony, <strong>Enrique Fernández de la Lama,</strong> resta importancia al asunto: "Es la reclamación de unos clientes por la compra de unos muebles. Ya hemos justificado que fue porque llegó la crisis inmobiliaria. Fue a pesar de haber invertido más dinero del que se recibió de los clientes". Este considera que lo lógico es que el procedimiento penal se archive y la reclamación siga otro curso. Los demandantes no solo iban contra Darragh MacAnthony. Se dirigían también contra un hombre de 90 años llamado <strong>Fernando Arespacochaga del Olmo</strong>. Sostenían que era "formalmente el administrador único de la mercantil Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana, la cual es, a su vez, también formalmente, la administradora única de la española MacAnthony Reality International Spain" (MRIS). Señalaban que dada la falta de movimientos económicos de la Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana esta daba la impresión de ser <strong>"una empresa meramente instrumental"</strong>. <div class="articlephoto news-width-text"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/654/a34f21aaf974e15551a6b8c1209d0bd4/joaquin-arespacochaga-fotografiado-por-la-policia-en-madrid.jpg" alt="Joaquín Arespacochaga, fotografiado por la policía en Madrid." width="654" height="459" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">Joaquín Arespacochaga, fotografiado por la policía en Madrid.</figcaption></figure></div> El argumento del abogado González es que MRIS desapareció en esa empresa para que no hubiera a quién reclamarle el dinero. Y que Arespacochaga era solo un hombre de paja al que jamás se lo podrían reclamar responsabilidades. MRIS quedó liquidada en 2012. En un columpio de altas y bajas en el registro mercantil, la sociedad estaba en manos de Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana SAC desde el año 2005. Esta sociedad tiene sede en Perú y, aparentemente, no tiene ninguna conexión con Macanthony. <h4>Sin cartel en la puerta</h4> La declaración de Fernando Arespacochaga en el juzgado confirmó que efectivamente él tenía poco que ver en el negocio. Allí afirmó "que un sobrino suyo es asesor de MRIS y le invitó a tener un cargo como director de esta empresa para agilizar los trámites de esta ya que los socios de la entidad no residían en España y él sí". Añadió que "por este cargo le pagan 600 euros al mes y que <strong>su sobrino se llama Joaquín de Arespacochaga"</strong> y admitió que "escapa a su control la actividad real de la empresa MRIS", que él confió en su sobrino, que era quien le decía dónde tenía que firmar. <span class="summary block-summary">Los vínculos entre MacAnthony y Fernando Arespacochaga llegan a las Seychelles</span> El nombre de Joaquín Arespacochaga quedó colgando en esa declaración. Nadie tiró del hilo. Era el asesor fiscal de MRIS y el que nombró a un nonagenario para que firmara. En otros seis juzgados de Cádiz y Madrid hay huellas de Arespacochaga, aunque en esos sí está siendo investigado, según una investigación de El Confidencial. Se trata de un inspector de Hacienda en excedencia y asesor fiscal de la jet. Está investigado por ayudar a miembros de la buena sociedad madrileña a fingir su residencia fiscal en el exterior, como tres <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2017-01-15/la-fiscalia-contra-los-cotoner-grandes-de-espana-y-residentes-en-luxemburgo-y-suiza_1316259/" target="_self">hermanos Cotoner</a>, tres hijos del exjefe de la Casa del Rey, y Enrique Maestre Cavanna, hijo del promotor Tomás Maestre. Según la investigación sobre el desvío de fondos públicos del dinero de la Bahía de Cádiz, Fernando Arespacochaga era utilizado como testaferro habitual por Joaquín Arespacochaga. La dirección de varias sociedades en las que participa la peruana en España es calle Azulinas 7, en Madrid, local identificado como centro de los negocios de Joaquín Arespacochaga en Madrid. <div class="articlephoto news-width-text"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/654/5d97ff698369ccb06b99e8f3a2db8ec7/fernando-arespacochaga-tambien-era-titular-de-una-sociedad-offshore-que-acabo-en-manos-de-macanthony.jpg" alt="Fernando Arespacochaga también era titular de una sociedad offshore que acabó en manos de MAcAnthony." width="654" height="361" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">Fernando Arespacochaga también era titular de una sociedad offshore que acabó en manos de MAcAnthony.</figcaption></figure></div> Cuando los abogados de los denunciantes de Marbella fueron a Madrid a ver la sede desde la que supuestamente se controlaban las inversiones en la costa vieron un <a href="http://belegal.com/blog-by-antonio-flores/the-inglorious-end-of-macanthony-realty-international/" target="_blank">portal anodino sin cartel en la puerta</a>. Nada que ver con la pomposa sede de MRIS en Marbella años antes, ante la que a menudo estaban aparcados coches de lujo. El abogado de MacAnthony, <strong>Enrique Férnández de la Lama,</strong> ve perfectamente lógica la relación: "El sobrino de Fernando Arespacochaga le llevaba temas fiscales y como no estaba aquí en España puso en el consejo de administración a Fernando, pero no ha tenido nada que ver como MRIS". Este sostiene, en contra de los denunciantes, que la Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana no tiene nada que ver con las firmas de MacAnthony. <h4>"Pasadlo a Mossack Fonscea"</h4> El mismo papel de 'prestanombre' para la red societaria de su sobrino es el que Fernando de Arespacochaga tiene en las decenas de sociedades registradas en paraísos fiscales y creadas por el despacho de abogados Mossack Fonseca, a cuya base de datos este diario tiene acceso en el marco de la investigación de los Papeles de Panamá. En medio de los once millones de documentos que la componen es donde se halla la conexión 'offshore' entre Arespacochaga y MacAnthony. <div class="articlephoto news-float-out-fig"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/585/63686ea3cd1fe06d1283d9802eee9926/constitucion-de-jaguar-capital-en-los-papeles-de-panama.jpg" alt="Constitución de Jaguar Capital en los Papeles de Panamá." width="585" height="727" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">Constitución de Jaguar Capital en los Papeles de Panamá.</figcaption></figure></div> Los vínculos entre MacAnthony y Fernando Arespacochaga no se limitan a que el nonagenario pasó a controlar formalmente la inmobiliaria de Marbella. Se replicó idéntico a miles de kilómetros de distancia, en las islas Seychelles. El nombre de Fernando figuraba como accionista de la sociedad Jaguar Capital Limited hasta 2005. En 2006, esta compañía se utilizó para abrir una cuenta bancaria en Suiza a nombre de Natalie MacAnthony, la esposa de Darragh. Lo mismo hicieron ese año con <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/lista-falciani/2015-02-14/se-aconseja-crear-una-sociedad-offshore-asi-el-hsbc-ayudaba-a-evadir-impuestos_712125/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=es&q=http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/lista-falciani/2015-02-14/se-aconseja-crear-una-sociedad-offshore-asi-el-hsbc-ayudaba-a-evadir-impuestos_712125/&source=gmail&ust=1490036566901000&usg=AFQjCNHEY4RAceSKrGe8zQFZ-nY0heaMuA">cientos de sociedades</a> para burlar un actualización de la ley europea sobre secreto bancario. La mujer del magnate del fútbol figura como “beneficiaria final del 100%” de la sociedad incluso en documentos de 2015. El mismo <strong>Darragh </strong>intervino para agilizar los trámites. En un correo de finales de 2013 pide a su asesor que “pase los documentos a los de Mossack Fonseca, para asegurarnos de que todo esté bien hecho”. Y es que la sociedad tenía un fin declarado, gestionar una propiedad en Ascot, a las afueras de Londres. En marzo de 2016, la propiedad se vendió por 2,3 millones de libras, algo más de 2,6 millones de euros. <div class="articlephoto news-width-text"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/654/47e4e58fd439dfa1d76921c26bfc2d80/un-cartel-de-darragh-macanthony-daba-la-bienvenida-a-la-costa-del-sol.jpg" alt="Un cartel de Darragh MacAnthony daba la bienvenida a la Costa del Sol. " width="654" height="327" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">Un cartel de Darragh MacAnthony daba la bienvenida a la Costa del Sol.</figcaption></figure></div> El <strong>imperio de MacAnthony</strong> en la Costa del Sol es historia. Pero sus perseguidores son tenaces. Los abogados de Lawbird han encontrado la mansión que posee en Marbella, un enorme chalé de 2.500 metros en una parcela de 8.000 en la Sierra blanca. La llaman el mirador, por las vistas, y está a nombre de una sociedad. "¿Si las inmobiliarias quebraron y no pudo pagar a los que le compraron los muebles cómo se está pagando esa mansión? ¿Quién paga esa hipoteca?", se pregunta el abogado Luis Fernando González, que critica las maniobras societarias de MacAnthony, que no llevó sus empresas a concurso de acreedores. Estos recuerdan el gusto por el dinero de MacAnthony con una declaración de hace unos años: "Estaría desolado si en cinco año no atesoro un patrimonio de al menos mil millones de euros".
      • post_titleEl pufo marbellí de MacAnthony: un magnate del fútbol inglés usó la red de Arespacochaga
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      • post_modified2017-10-02 20:07:08
      • post_modified_gmt2017-10-02 19:07:08
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      • post_date2017-02-23 11:58:17
      • post_date_gmt2017-02-23 10:58:17
      • post_content<img class="alignright wp-image-1515" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/OVP_spanish-property-scam_Sunday-Life-204x300.jpg" alt="OVP_spanish property scam_Sunday Life" width="245" height="361" />More than 1,000 buyers from the UK and Ireland lost £45m after Birmingham- based <strong>Ocean View Properties (OVP)</strong> was formally dissolved in 2009. OVP was the exclusive agent for the Manilva Gardens luxury holiday complex in Estepona on the Costa del Sol. It was behind successful overseas property enterprises, but ran into difficulties as UK agent for Spanish developer <strong>Ricardo Miranda Miret</strong>. A claim for fraud and misappropriation of funds was lodged in February 2011 in a bid to recover deposits paid by investors to OVP. It has more than 50 Northern Irish investors among 120 claimants for £9.2m. A second class action complaint for £2m, brought by 30 British and Irish investors, was filed in 2013. Many Northern Irish investors remortgaged homes to finance their dream luxury buys. One local investor was Armagh ex-teacher Ollie Reel, who now works for a firm helping investors to recover their lost money. Mr Reel and his three brothers sank thousands of pounds into the deal, but have managed to get some of it back. “It started in 2006 and through a few good friends, mainly in GAA circles, they invested in Spain and I was persuaded at that time it could be good for me as well and I couldn’t lose out,” he told an Irish radio station. “The economy was booming and everyone was going mad buying property, like everyone else I got caught up in the euphoria of it all. “If only I had known what was ahead of me, I would never have considered it. “The investment I was involved in was in Estepona in Spain and there was about 100 of us on both sides of the border, I suppose we lost a combined €12m. “These apartments were all fully furnished, they were very good at advertising it, they flew groups of us down to Spain and we stood on the actual site and we were all taken in by owning a new property in Spain.” He added: “The company went bust and it was down to the fact that the developer who was building our property hadn’t even got a building licence.” Mr Reel explained that after going through Spanish lawyers, he eventually was able to recover around half of his £145,000 deposit through a group called the Claims Bureau. He now works as a consultant for the group. The Madrid High Court probe has been beset by delays and setbacks. An investigating judge was replaced after he was found to have family ties to Mr Miranda Miret. In the latest twist, the developer is accused of submitting forged documents in the criminal action. A spokesman for Marbella- based legal firm <strong>Lawbird</strong> said: “By using these documents, supposedly signed by the secretary of Ocean View in Spain, the developer tried to prove that they had formally notified the estate agent that it was not possible to continue selling apartments as no licences were in place and they didn’t own the land where the development was to be built.” Final witness statements for OVP are to be given on Wednesday. Following these submissions, the judge will decide if the case should proceed to trial. Mr Miranda Miret and others accused have all strongly denied any wrongdoing. Former Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry and BBC’s Homes Under The Hammer star Martin Roberts, who starred on I’m a Celebrity, were among those duped into marketing luxury off-plan apartments for the firm, though neither benefited in any way, or had any knowledge of the alleged irregularities. <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/OVP_spanish-property-scam_Sunday-Life.pdf">Original print (PDF ~ 4Mb)</a>
      • post_titleAlleged Spanish scammer accused over documents
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptA SPANISH developer alleged to have scammed over 50 Northern Irish investors in a multi-million pound property deal has been accused of forging documents
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          • post_date2017-03-27 12:17:55
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          • post_titleOVP_spanish property scam_Sunday Life
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      • post_date2017-01-28 09:07:59
      • post_date_gmt2017-01-28 08:07:59
      • post_contentEl barón <strong>David de Rothschild</strong>, heredero del famoso linaje industrial y durante años presidente de la banca <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/tags/empresas/rothschild-10002/" target="_self">Rothschild</a>, fue interrogado por escrito por un juez de Dénia (Alicante) que le investiga por publicidad engañosa. Lo hizo <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2016-03-04/un-juez-pide-ayuda-a-francia-para-interrogar-al-baron-rothschild-por-publicidad-enganosa_1162966/" target="_self">el pasado 22 de julio</a>, aunque la <strong>comisión rogatoria</strong> con la respuesta no llegó al juzgado español hasta el 19 de diciembre. Decenas de jubilados británicos y alemanes acusan a la banca Rothschild de venderles un producto financiero para <strong>evadir el <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/tags/economia/impuesto-de-sucesiones-13308/" target="_self">impuesto de sucesiones</a> </strong>con el que pueden perder sus casas. El barón respondió una y otra vez que <strong>no sabía cómo funcionaba el negocio en España. "No conozco ese producto"</strong>, responde en un cuestionario repleto de evasivas. <div class="articlephoto news-img-zoom"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/1330/f442cae25dc28ed64b502951cfdf2692/el-baron-de-rotschild-firma-su-interrogatorio.jpg" alt="El barón de Rotschild firma su interrogatorio." width="1330" height="1033" /> <div class="media-zoom-icon">AMPLIAR</div> <figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">El barón de Rotschild firma su interrogatorio.</figcaption></figure></div> Los jueces españoles siguen elevando el tiro contra la banca. El titular del juzgado de instrucción número 1 de Dénia, <strong>Pedro Pablo Abad Ortiz</strong>, prosigue con la instrucción de una <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2015-11-03/mas-lios-para-rothschild-un-juez-de-denia-imputa-al-baron-por-publicidad-enganosa_1081137/" target="_self">querella contra la banca Rothschild</a> por <strong>publicidad engañosa</strong>. Jubilados británicos y alemanes en la costa han ido contra el banco por un producto financiero complejo. Simplificando, Rothschild les daba una hipoteca sobre la casa, ese préstamo era invertido y con los intereses ganaban dinero y además eludían el impuesto de sucesiones si uno de los cónyuges fallecía, porque estaba hipotecado fuera de España. Así comercializó unas 130 hipotecas que, a una media de 600.000 euros, suman <strong>unos 70 millones de euros</strong>, según estima <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/" target="_blank">abogado de los demandantes</a>, para dar un orden de magnitud. Flores tiene sede en Marbella y especializado en defender a extranjeros en la costa. Con la crisis financiera, esas inversiones fueron mal y los jubilados vieron después que debían poner dinero para mantener unas casas que ya tenían pagadas. Unos emprendieron pleitos por vía civil, que ganó Rothschild, y otros siguen en curso, pero este va por la vía penal por publicidad engañosa. "Es importante, puede pasar que vaya a juicio si no da la cara alguien. Él es el máximo director de la empresa. Es la persona que tiene que aprobar que se den esos millones en préstamos", señala Flores. "<strong>Yo no estuve implicado personalmente</strong> en los contratos de Credictselect series 4. Para responder a este cuestionario, me han indicado desde NMR [NMR Rothschilds & Sons] que jamás ha propuesto fondos de inversión ligados a los contratos de esos préstamos", señala el barón en su respuesta a un cuestionario por escrito. La comisión rogatoria a Francia fue enviada en marzo de 2016. En sus respuestas, que ocupan 17 páginas, abundan las evasivas: "La pregunta no está clara", "a fin de contestar a este cuestionario, NMR me ha indicado que...". <span class="summary block-summary">"Yo no estuve implicado personalmente en los contratos", respondió el barón por cuestionario</span> Según las respuestas de David de Rothschild, los préstamos se daban a "individuos que tenían un <strong>inmueble que no estaba sometido a ninguna hipoteca</strong>, que declaraban tener otros activos y que eran expatriados [británicos o de otras nacionalidades]", pero <strong>esa hipoteca nunca se dio para reducir el impuesto de sucesiones</strong>. Según él, era solo "un préstamo garantizado por el inmueble", y quien lo pedía seleccionaba "las inversiones de acuerdo con el consejo de su asesor". A la pregunta de si conoce a <strong>Stephen Dewsnip</strong>, señalado como uno de los artífices del esquema en España, responde: <strong>"Yo no lo conozco personalmente</strong>, pero me han informado desde NMR para contestar a este cuestionario que fue administrador de RBI [<strong>Rothschild Bank International Limited</strong>]". Este firmó como presidente de Rotschild Channel Islands un artículo en el que presentaba este sistema como un atajo contra el impuesto de sucesiones. Fue repartido en reuniones en la costa española, según los denunciantes. "Yo <strong>no he autorizado la publicidad de este producto</strong> porque no he estado jamás implicado personalmente en los contratos de préstamo", responde el barón al juez de Dénia. Más adelante, responde que NMR no publicitaba la reducción del impuesto de sucesiones. <span class="summary block-summary">El barón, a la televisión francesa: "Me sorprendería mucho que se hubiera hecho algo ilegal"</span> Los demandantes, en cambio, han alegado que siempre <strong>se usaba la marca Rothschild</strong> y han aportado folletos en los que con el logo del banco se les vendía como una forma de eludir el impuesto de sucesiones. Sin embargo, la<strong>dirección general de Tributos</strong> contestó a una consulta que no era legal eludir el impuesto de sucesiones hipotecando un bien en el extranjero. Esa hipoteca en el extranjero <strong>“no es deducible a efectos del impuesto de sucesiones”</strong> y hacerlo “supone una <strong>infracción tributaria sancionable”.</strong> <div class="articlephoto news-float-fig"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/330/f625588ddb510ef30e6ccb4e109b51c7/publicidad-de-rothschild-repartida-en-la-costa-del-sol.jpg" alt="Publicidad de Rothschild repartida en la Costa del Sol." width="330" height="329" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">Publicidad de Rothschild repartida en la Costa del Sol.</figcaption></figure></div> "Nadie en el seno de NMR ha estado implicado de ninguna manera en la gestión de esos fondos de inversión", señala el barón. Su defensa es afirmar que <strong>ellos solo daban la hipoteca</strong> y que la inversión del dinero —lo que falló y amenaza con llevarse las viviendas— era algo independiente. Hasta ahora, los tribunales españoles han dando la razón en vía civil a Rothschild o los casos siguen en tramitación, pero el caso de Dénia va por vía penal por publicidad engañosa. El asunto ha llegado a la televisión francesa. El pasado mes de diciembre, la cadena France 2 emitió el reportaje '<a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-magazine/france-2/complement-d-enquete/video-rothschild-le-pouvoir-d-un-nom_1946741.html" target="_blank">Rothschild, el poder de un nombre</a>'. Acudieron a la Costa del Sol a entrevistar a afectados por esta hipoteca. En el vídeo (minuto 55), la periodista le enseña al barón la publicidad con el logotipo de Rothschild en que se anunciaban los préstamos. Aparentemente molesto, David de Rothschild replica: "<strong>Eso no se podría hacer sin la participación de cierta gente en España</strong> que consideraba que era buena idea [...] Me sorprendería mucho que se hubiera hecho algo ilegal".
      • post_titleUn juez de Alicante interroga al barón Rothschild por publicidad engañosa
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      • post_date2016-12-27 08:53:31
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      • post_contentCourt of First Instance 11 in Bilbao has ruled that twelve mortgage loans valued at six million euros, granted to British families mostly in Malaga province between 2004 and 2007, should be declared void. The case was dealt with in Bilbao as all loans were granted at a notary in the city, and the representatives of the lender, SL Mortgage Funding nº1 Limited (SLMF), were also based in the Basque city, according to<strong> Lawbird Legal Services SLP</strong>. These loans were sold to attain a reduction in potential inheritance tax, inasmuch as the mortgage would reduce the taxable value of the property, but also to supplement the modest pensions received by the owners of the properties. <strong>SL Mortgage Funding nº1 Limited (SLMF)</strong>, based in Chester (UK), had not applied for the necessary regulatory permits to legally raise funds from the public and provide an investment service - activities reserved and regulated by the Bank of Spain and the CNMV (financial regulator). In spite of not having any of the above authorisations, SLMF would lend but at the same time retain most of the proceeds of the loan, which would then be invested by the company. The ruling declares that “infringing the protocols set by the relevant administrative authority to supervise the disputed product is a regulatory violation that exceeds that of a mere breach of banking laws, such as misselling, so profusely dealt with recently in relation to the massive sale of complex financial products.” The judge who presided over this case concluded that the breach of public policy “is far more serious” as it made a mockery of a whole system of financial and banking supervision designed to prevent abuses to consumers and protect the stability of the sector. He likened this behaviour “civil fraud”, which is any proposal that contravenes mandatory regulations or has a false or forbidden reason. The sale of this product was conducted via commission-earning financial advisory firms (<strong>Hamiltons Financial Services</strong>, <strong>Henry Woods Investment Management</strong> and others), based in Estepona, Marbella and Fuengirola. SLMF also recommended a network of lawyers which would downplay the extent of the lack of licensing requirements of the bank and the product. According to Lawbird Legal Services SLP, working on behalf of the claimants, the ruling confirms that “operating in breach of mandatory banking and financial regulations makes the offender a ‘boiler room’, even if the company was legally operating in its own country”. It also allows the victims to “end the nightmare” which has blighted the victims for over ten years. The judge concluded by saying that all contracts and agreements executed between the clients and the bank should be terminated, but also applied the laws of contractual termination in a novel way with the clients able to claim back everything they had put in without having to return what was given to them.”
      • post_titleJudge nullifies 12 equity release mortgages worth six million euros
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      • post_date2016-12-10 20:58:42
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      • post_contentEl juzgado de Primera Instancia número 11 de Bilbao ha declarado la nulidad radical de doce hipotecas inversas que se concedieron a familias británicas radicadas en la provincia de Málaga entre 2004 y 2007, por un importe de seis millones de euros. Este juzgado conoció del asunto al haberse firmado en una notaría de Bilbao todos los contratos y estar allí domiciliados los representantes del banco, ha informado el bufete de abogados Lawbird Legal Services en un comunicado. Dichos préstamos se vendían con la finalidad de evitar el Impuesto de Sucesiones toda vez que, supuestamente, la hipoteca debía reducir el valor de la vivienda y, por otro lado, el resultado de la inversión del préstamo complementaría los ingresos que recibían a las limitadas pensiones. La prestamista, <strong>SL Mortgage Funding nº1 Limited (SLMF),</strong> radicada en Chester (Cheshire, Reino Unido), no había obtenido la pertinente autorización para captar fondos reembolsables del público y prestar servicios de inversión, actividades reservadas y reguladas por el Banco de España y la Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV). A pesar de ello, la citada entidad prestaba, pero captaba el importe del préstamo posteriormente y lo invertía en fondos seleccionados previamente por ella misma. La sentencia declara probado que "esta forma de actuar infringiendo los controles de las autoridades competentes para comercializar en España el producto litigioso va más allá de un mero incumplimiento de determinados deberes, como el de información, profusamente tratado en los últimos tiempos en relación a la comercialización de productos complejos". Según la titular de dicho juzgado, la infracción en este caso es mayor, pues supone una burla a todo un sistema destinado no sólo a la protección del consumidor, sino a la propia estabilidad del sistema financiero, pudiendo incluso tener encaje en el denominado "fraude civil", consistente en todo caso contrario directamente a la norma imperativa o prohibitiva. La venta se realizó a través de empresas comercializadoras (<strong>Hamilton Financial Services, Henry Woods Investment Management</strong> y otras) de Estepona, Marbella y Fuengirola, que trabajaban a comisión colocando el producto mediante técnicas activas de captación de clientes. También participaban una serie de letrados igualmente propuestos por SLMF que creaban una apariencia de seriedad que daba lugar a que se relativizase el alcance de la falta de control administrativo de las entidades y del propio producto, señala el comunicado. Según<strong> Lawbird Legal Services</strong>, encargado de la representación letrada de los clientes, la sentencia supone "la confirmación de que operar al margen de la legalidad en materia bancaria y de inversiones convierte a la infractora en un chiringuito financiero, aunque se trate de una entidad legal en su país, y permite liberar a las víctimas de una pesadilla que duraba cerca de diez años". La jueza entiende que la nulidad debe extenderse a todos los contratos suscritos por los clientes con el banco y aplica de forma novedosa esa nulidad en su versión más beneficiosa para la demandante (y gravosa para la condenada), al poder reclamar lo que hubiera dado sin obligación de cumplir lo que hubiera ofrecido.
      • post_titleUn juez anula doce hipotecas inversas de británicos en Málaga por importe de 6 millones
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      • post_date2016-12-02 21:57:49
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      • post_content <p>Avec ce "Document de Complément d'enquête", plongez dans l'univers très fermé des Rothschild. Un nom légendaire et une dynastie associée à l'argent et au pouvoir depuis deux cents ans et sept générations. Trois de ses représentants ont accepté de lever le voile sur l'empire familial.</p> <h2>Minute 48'10''</h2> https://youtu.be/Mvx7BNke2wg?t=2890 <h2>Minute 6'47''</h2> https://youtu.be/Mvx7BNke2wg?t=406 Links <ul> <li><a href="http://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-magazine/france-2/complement-d-enquete/video-rothschild-le-pouvoir-d-un-nom_1946741.html">Full Video</a></li> </ul>  
      • post_titleVIDEO. Rothschild, le pouvoir d'un nom
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      • post_date2016-11-08 08:48:48
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      • post_contentAlicante, 7 nov (EFE).- El Juzgado de Primera Instancia número 6 de Alicante ha condenado al Banco Popular a devolver unos dos millones de euros a más de 60 británicos que invirtieron en viviendas sobre plano en un proyecto urbanístico en Fortuna y que nunca se terminaron. Según la sentencia, a la que ha tenido acceso EFE, los demandantes, todos ellos del Reino Unido, tienen en común el haber adquirido distintas viviendas del residencial<strong> Fortuna Golf,</strong> promovido por la mercantil <strong>Promociones Eurohouse 2010, S.L</strong>., que se encuentra declarada en concurso voluntario de acreedores desde marzo de 2010. La sentencia indica que como suele ocurrir en este tipo de contratos, "los compradores entregaron distintas cantidades a cuenta del precio final" y llegado el día pactado para la entrega de las viviendas -28 de febrero de 2008- éstas no se encontraban debidamente acabadas, lo que determinó la resolución de los contratos de compraventa". Los demandantes pedían la condena solidaria del Banco Popular, por ser la entidad que tenía suscrita con Promociones Eurohouse 2010, S.L, una línea de avales destinada a garantizar la restitución de las sumas percibidas. También reclamaban a Caja Rural Central por ser la entidad en la que se ingresaban las cantidades satisfechas por los compradores; y al Banco Santander por haber financiado a la promotora y haber constituido una hipoteca sobre la totalidad de la finca en la que se iban a construir las viviendas. La acusación, ejercida por el despacho <strong>Lawbird Legal Services S.L</strong>., invoca legislación de protección de consumidores (Ley 57/1968 sobre anticipos a cuenta en la venta de viviendas), que a su entender, debía en todo caso proteger las entregas abonadas por consumidores finalistas. El Banco Popular alega, entre otras cosas, que no ha prestado "un aval individual a los demandantes en garantía de la devolución de las cantidades por ellos entregadas", y que la póliza de garantía aportada con la demanda está sometida a un límite económico. El juzgado, sin embargo, entiende que debe estimarse la demanda, pues ha quedado probado que la entidad financiera concedió a la promotora una línea de avales, en la que se "garantiza la devolución de las cantidades entregadas a cuenta de conformidad con lo previsto por la ley 57/1968". "No existe duda al respecto", señala la sentencia, que considera claro que "la intención evidente de los contratantes fue la de constituir un aval que sirviera a Promociones Eurohouse 2010, S.L. para garantizar la restitución de las cantidades que fuera recibiendo de sus clientes". Asimismo, considera que los adquirentes de las viviendas "no pueden verse perjudicados por el hecho de que Promociones Eurohouse S.L. y la entidad financiera con quien aquélla había concertado la garantía hubieran pactado la necesidad de que esta última emitiera, de forma individualizada, cada aval". El jugado también especifica que el hecho de que las cantidades entregadas por los demandantes hayan sido ingresadas o no en una cuenta de titularidad de Banco Popular resulta irrelevante, y ve "intrascendente" que esta entidad "financiara o no la promoción de viviendas". La sentencia, que no es firme y contra la que se puede interponer un recurso de apelación en un plazo de 20 días, obliga al Banco Popular a pagar a los demandantes cantidades que van desde los 34.000 a los 88.000 euros, y que suman cerca de 2 millones de euros, mientras que absuelve a las otras dos entidades denunciadas.
      • post_titleCondenan al Popular devolver 2 millones a 60 compradores de casas en Fortuna
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      • post_date2016-04-14 09:02:16
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      • post_contentLos papeles de Panamá son un auténtico<strong> quién es quién de la abogacía</strong> y la asesoría fiscal en España. Porque aunque las empresas están en lugares soleados, y los fondos a menudo en bancos en Suiza, todo se gestiona desde despachos con orlas de abogados en Madrid, Barcelona o Marbella. Bufetes como Feliú, De Miguel y Del Valle, salpicados en casos de blanqueo en España, aparecen de forma reiterada en los documentos de Mossack Fonseca como intermediarios. Los grandes, grandes despachos llevaban aparentemente más cuidado para hacer negocios con Mossack. En 1985, un industrial vasco abrió la sociedad <strong>Cornfield Investments Limited</strong> en la Isla de Jersey. Lo hizo con Mossack Fonseca a través del despacho Feliú, según los papeles a los que tuvo acceso el diario alemán 'Süddeustche Zeitung' y que publican un centenar de medios -en España, El Confidencial y La Sexta- en colaboración con el Consorcio Internacional de Periodistas de Investigación (<a href="https://www.icij.org/">ICIJ</a>). <strong><a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/papeles-panama/">[Especial los papeles de Panamá: destapamos a Mossack Fonseca, la gran trama de las sociedades 'offshore']</a></strong> El 7 de noviembre de 1989, <strong>Alejandro Feliú Vidal</strong>, <strong>Alejandro Feliú Marqués</strong> y <strong>Miguel Feliú Bordoy</strong> reciben un poder notarial de Cornfield. Los Feliú pertenecen a un despacho de abogados de Mallorca con un relevante historial de blanqueo y delito fiscal. El 26 de abril de 2007, <a href="http://elpais.com/diario/2007/04/27/espana/1177624809_850215.html">la policía irrumpió en el despacho</a> en una operación contra el blanqueo y el fraude fiscal. Era un caso sin muchos precedentes, en el que <strong>Anticorrupción </strong>no solo actuaba contra los defraudadores fiscales sino también contra los abogados que facilitaban la creación de sociedades en paraísos fiscales. <div> <div class="articlephoto news-float-fig"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/330/12d31a318e2dc24f036501f147f47bb7/nac116-palma-de-mallorca-21-03-2012-el-abogado-alejandro-feliu-i-y-el-matrimonio-formado-por-el-financiero-de-la-city-de-londres-christian-hore-y-martha-hore-durante-el-juicio-por-blanqueo-y-defraudacion-a-hacienda-en-el-que-han-sido-condenados-a-pagar-mas-de-once-millones-de-euros-efe-montserrat-t-diez.jpg" alt="El abogado Alejandro Feliu, durante el juicio por blanqueo y fraude fiscal en el que fue condenado. (EFE)" width="330" height="278" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">El abogado Alejandro Feliu, durante el juicio por blanqueo y fraude fiscal en el que fue condenado. (EFE)</figcaption></figure></div> </div> Días después, las alarmas saltaron en las oficinas de Mossack Fonseca. El departamento de 'compliance', encargado en teoría de vigilar que no se incumpla la ley, escribe un correo alertando de que hay que dar de baja a Feliú. Pero el hombre de Mossack en España, <strong>Jaime Ingram</strong>, quita hierro al asunto. “El señor Ingram me indica que sobre el tema del Bufete Feliú, lo que existe al momento es un 'pequeño escándalo', pero que sin embargo eran noticias que debíamos tomar con reserva”, señala en un correo. El propio Ingram, que no ha querido hablar para este reportaje, da más adelante una versión aún más suave: “Es una firma conocida a la que el Gobierno ha tomado como ejemplo <strong>para dar un escarmiento</strong>”. Anticorrupción <a href="http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/03/06/actualidad/1394125948_334747.html">pedía hasta 30 años de cárcel para cada uno de los Feliú</a>. Pero estos confesaron, asumieron la culpa, pagaron y se quedaron sin ingreso en prisión. El Estado ya ha ingresado 20 millones de euros en multas por el fraude, también en bienes, a consecuencia de la operación Relámpago de 2007, <a href="http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/03/06/actualidad/1394125948_334747.html" target="_blank">según publicó 'El País</a>'. Los Feliú -en el bufete no han contestado a los mensajes y llamadas de este diario- no solo manejaban Corfield Investments. Según la documentación de Mossack Fonseca, antes de ser suspendidos habían intermediado en nueve empresas: ocho en las <strong>Islas Vírgenes Británicas</strong> y otra en <strong>Panamá</strong>. Todas tenían nombres inanes, fácilmente olvidables, intercambiables entre sí: Tern Holdings SA, Blane Corporation, Belan International Group Corp., Leban Corporation, Nabel Corporation, Sea Medow International, Sea Time Services limited, Lampera II Limited y Palma Consulting LTD. <span class="summary block-summary">El hombre de Mossack en España defendió al Bufete Feiú: “Es una firma conocida a la que el Gobierno ha tomado como ejemplo para dar un escarmiento”</span> Con la caída de Feliú, nuestro empresario -El Confidencial ha decidido de momento no publicar su nombre, por no ser un personaje público- eligió otro bufete renombrado: <strong>De Miguel Abogados</strong>, fundado por <strong>Luis de Miguel</strong>, esta vez en Madrid. Entonces su nombre aún no figuraba en rojo en Hacienda, pero eso no quiere decir que no tuviera su historia. En 1993 escribió un libro profético: 'Objetivo, sin fronteras fiscales: los paraísos fiscales y la inversión extranjera en España'. Y pocos años después comenzó a trabajar con <strong>Francisco Correa</strong>, cabecilla de la <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/tags/temas/caso-gurtel-5219/"><strong>Gürtel</strong></a>. De Miguel fue administrador único de <strong>Orange Market e</strong> <strong>Easy Concept,</strong>y tuvo cargos en <strong>Special Events</strong> y <strong>TCM</strong>, entre otras sociedades de la red. Era una pieza clave en la trama, considerado el arquitecto financiero de la Gürtel. Según un informe de Anticorrupción del 6 de mayo de 2010, en su despacho había documento sobre "las <a href="http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/02/05/actualidad/1391614700_415817.html">estructuras de blanqueo</a> 'offshore' (paraísos fiscales) con sociedades ubicadas en Antillas Holandesas y la Isla de Nevis”. De Miguel se movía bien. Conoció personalmente a <strong>Ramón Fonseca</strong> en la conferencia de <strong>The International Tax Planning Association</strong> en San Petersburgo en junio de 2004, según la documentación de Mossack. Días después se reunió con una representante de Mossack -esta <a href="https://blacklight.icij.org/kgmsepfyedqcdr/catalog/CDF65E8A280E4085B6156DF6409477828ABA299482CD995520260D37A27D522E/text">lo describió como</a> “muy cordial y de muy buena apariencia”-. “<strong>Usa compañías en Nevis y Madeira</strong>. Yo sugerí usar <strong>Samoa </strong>y <strong>Niue</strong>, que no están en la lista española de paraísos fiscales”, dice la nota interna de Mossack. La reunión terminó de manera optimista: “Creo que tenemos un 100% de probabilidades de hacer negocios con esta firma, porque al señor De Miguel le gustó la idea de usar Niue en vez de Nevis”. Como acababa el plazo para presentar la renta, la conversación con De Miguel se vio constantemente interrumpida por clientes que le llamaban con dudas. <div class="articlephoto news-width-text"><figure class="news-img-figure"><img class="news-img-def " src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/654/40710d936200125210372bed0208d89e/el-abogado-luis-de-miguel-efe.jpg" alt="El abogado Luis de Miguel. (EFE)" width="654" height="369" /><figcaption class="news-img-caption-def">El abogado Luis de Miguel. (EFE)</figcaption></figure></div> Por alguna razón, De Miguel sigue usando Nevis, una isla del Caribe. En 2010, tras el fallecimiento de nuestro industrial, cuando Cornfield Investments pasa a sus hijas, De Miguel escribe a Mossack ordenando liquidar la sociedad y traspasar los activos a <strong>Limarno</strong>, una sociedad de <strong>Nevis</strong>. Para entonces, el abogado De Miguel ya estaba de barro hasta las cejas. Al igual que con Feliú, Hacienda y Anticorrupción le habían echado el ojo. En 2006, el juez <strong>Baltasar Garzón</strong> había ordenado entrar en su despacho en Madrid dentro de la operación del BBVA-Privanza, y encontró una serie de clientes a los que De Miguel ayudaba a evadir impuestos. “En España no hay cultura de fiducia, de fiarse de alguien que te crea las sociedades 'offshore' sin un papel. Como no te fías del testaferro, siempre hay un documento en una caja fuerte que te relaciona. Así que cuando la policía entra en uno de estos despachos, ya lo tienes todo”, explica una fuente de Hacienda. <span class="summary block-summary">La Agencia Tributaria ha logrado condenas para algunos letrados como cooperadores en el fraude</span> Así cayó De Miguel. En abril de 2013 fue <strong>condenado por la Audiencia Nacional a 21 años de cárcel</strong> por ayudar al empresario vasco <strong>Juan Ramón Reparaz</strong> a defraudar a Hacienda 16 de los 25 millones de euros que el empresario no declaró entre 1999 y 2006. Lo hacía mediante sociedades interpuestas en Panamá, Belice, Irlanda, Reino Unido y España. La sentencia fue confirmada por el Supremo en 2014 y ya está en prisión. Su hijo, <strong>Eduardo de Miguel</strong>, dirige el despacho ahora, y asegura que ha cambiado radicalmente de actividad. Afirma que no sabe nada de Cornfield ni de Limarno. Suena creíble. "Tengo 30 años y el despacho ha cambiado", explica por teléfono. El abogado no fue condenado como cómplice, sino <strong>como “cooperador necesario”</strong>, un grado más. Eso implica que es como si fuera autor del delito. No es la única causa en la que aparece su nombre. El 17 de febrero de 2014, la Audiencia de Madrid le condenó a dos años de prisión por fraude fiscal por <strong>defraudar 197.669 euros</strong> y falsedad continuada en documento mercantil. Además, según ha sabido El Confidencial, tiene pendiente otro juicio por delito fiscal que pospone alegando problemas de salud de su abogado. <div class="videoWrapper"> <div class="smarty-1702850"><iframe src="http://widget.smartycenter.com/webservice/embed/9220/1702850/640/360/0/0/0/100/1" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <div class="footer-video-text">La fiscalía panameña ordena registrar la sede de Mossack Fonseca</div> </div> Feliú y De Miguel son solo dos de las decenas de despachos españoles que aparecen como intermediarios en las relaciones de españoles con el bufete panameño. Ilustran cómo con frecuencia los tentáculos de Mossack Fonseca en España tienen toga, una orla de licenciado en Derecho en la pared y un despacho de abogados de esos de sofás de cuero y suelo de parqué. El bufete <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/papeles-panama/2016-04-09/papeles-panama-papers-bufete-pretus-mossack-fonseca_1181011/">Pretus de Barcelona</a> es cliente destacado de Mossack y también estuvo implicado en un caso de blanqueo. Como <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/papeles-panama/2016-04-08/el-lider-de-la-gurtel-tambien-uso-mossack-fonseca-para-esconder-el-dinero-de-la-trama_1178535/">Francisco Javier del Valle</a>. Ambos son viejos conocidos de los tribunales españoles. Cameron anunció ayer <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/ultima-hora-en-vivo/2016-04-11/cameron-anuncia-ley-para-perseguir-a-bufetes-y-bancos-que-ayuden-a-la-evasion_877811/">una ley para perseguir a despachos</a> y bancos que ayuden a evadir impuestos, aunque en España hace años comenzó a actuar contra los casos más flagrantes. Todas las fuentes del sector coinciden en que los casos de Feliú y De Miguel, Pretus y Del Valle corrieron como la pólvora entre los despachos de abogados. "Hay mucha gente esperando que prescriban los casos para respirar", cuenta un abogado. Otro de los que aparecen como intermediario en una gran cantidad de sociedades es el despacho <strong>Roca Asociados</strong>. Rafael Roca es un penalista experto en temas fiscales que ha defendido, entre otros, a <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2016-02-17/juicio-al-marques-de-la-lista-falciani-le-echaron-millones-en-suiza-y-no-se-entero_1153525/">Gonzalo Prado</a>, acusado de ocultar <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2015-11-25/hacienda-pide-tres-anos-de-carcel-para-gonzalo-prado-el-marques-de-la-lista-falciani_1103038/">dinero en el HSBC de Ginebra</a> y cuyo nombre aparecía en la <strong>lista Falciani</strong>, o a los directivos de <strong>Verbatim </strong>condenados por fraude fiscal. Roca aparece en un lista de Mossack como intermedirio en 115 sociedades, de las que 22 permanecen activas. Hay empresas en Islas Vírgenes, Samoa, Panamá y Niue. Roca no ha querido hablar para este reportaje. En algunos casos, el trabajo de los abogado puede ser para traer una sociedad en la amnistía fiscal, lo que no les implicaría en ninguna irregularidad. <span class="summary block-summary">"Para abrir una sociedad en Panamá, no hay secreto profesional entre abogado y cliente que valga"</span> A menudo actuaban confiados en que la confidencialidad cliente-abogado se extendía a esos casos, pero eso ya no es así. <strong>Nielson Sánchez Stewart</strong>, abogado especializado en temas de blanqueo, advierte de que no se aplica en estas situaciones: “El secreto profesional es algo al servicio del cliente, no del abogado. Además, es <strong>solo para la defensa jurídica o la asesoría</strong>. Pero para abrir una sociedad en Panamá, no hace falta ser abogado. La puede abrir cualquiera, así que ahí no hay secreto profesional que valga”. En caso de sospechas de blanqueo, los abogados están obligados a denunciar al <strong>Servicio de Prevención de Blanqueo de Capitales</strong> (Sepblac). Sánchez Stewart destaca que no todo el que crea una sociedad en Panamá comete delito fiscal, y da un caso recurrente en el litoral. “Si viene un extranjero de 90 años que se quiere comprar una casa en Marbella, igual le recomendaría que lo hiciera mediante una sociedad en el extranjero”. Los residentes del norte de Europa temen como a la peste el impuesto de sucesiones español. “Lo que hace Mossack Fonseca hay que mirarlo caso a caso”, añade Sánchez Stewart. <span class="summary block-summary">El abogado Flores: “Mossack te ofrece la fiducia, la creación de sociedades 'offshore' de principio a fin"</span> <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, abogado en Marbella, de <strong>Lawbird</strong>, especializado en atender a clientes extranjeros, da una visión más descarnada: “Te ofrecen la fiducia, la creación de sociedades 'offshore' de principio a fin. Usaban acciones al portador, de forma que nunca sabes de quién es la sociedad”. Flores añade que a menudo se vendían sociedades a clientes que no las necesitaban. "Pagaban entre <strong>1.500 y 4.000 dólares al año</strong> a veces para usar una sociedad y comprar una casa en España, pero eso <strong>no les reportaba ventajas fiscales</strong>. Hemos tenido casos en los que hemos tenido que recuperar esa sociedad". Señala que a veces los abogados les recomendaban esa operación porque cobraban una comisión. En la lista de abogados que han trabajado con Mossack hay muchos de la costa. Como <strong>Vicente Tur Órtola</strong>, un letrado de Benissa (Alicante), que ha creado 13 sociedades con ellos: siete en Panamá y seis en Niue. De ellas, solo queda una activa: <strong>Warwick Investments</strong>. "En relación con Warwick Investments INC, su actividad es la de tenedora de acciones y promotora, en todo lo relacionado en el sector inmobiliario español”, dice Tur a Mossack en un correo electrónico en abril de 2014. Por teléfono, Tur Órtola reduce la importancia: “Warwick está inactiva. La creamos para un inglés que venía a comprarse una casa en la costa. La casa la vendió y mantiene la sociedad porque cuesta unos 600 dólares al año, pero le voy a decir que la cierre”. Tur habla franco y directo antes de que estalle el escándalo de los papeles de Panamá: “Mossack Fonseca eran abogados que hacían de todo. No sé cómo les irá. Ha habido un montón de reformas legislativas y <strong>eso no da más de sí”</strong>. Tur admite que ha trabajado con Mossack. <span class="summary block-summary">Un intermediario afirma que Mossack ofrecía servicios a la clase media que ahora solo están al alcance de las empresas multinacionales</span> En los papeles de Panamá aparecen también menciones a los grandes bufetes españoles, pero se nota que llevan mucho más cuidado. Abogados de <strong>Cuatrecasas</strong>figuran como apoderados en una sociedad de Panamá, pero la documentación demuestra que forma parte de una inversión en gimnasios en Colombia por parte de una empresa brasileña. Hay algo tangible detrás, no solo movimiento de impuestos. En 2004, una enviada de Mossack realizó una <strong>ronda por despachos españoles</strong> y de cada reunión realizó un pequeño resumen. De una cita con dos socios de <strong>Uria</strong>sale sin grandes perspectivas de negocio: "Creo que <strong>tenemos pocas oportunidades de hacer negocio con ellos"</strong>, aunque estos sí tratan con bancos de Andorra y con compañías de Suiza, Reino Unido, Malta, Chipre y Madeira. La misma conclusión saca de una reunión en 2005 con Garrigues. Dos abogados consultados coinciden en que Mossack Fonseca permitía crear sociedades a la clase media alta, pero que últimamente el negocio estaba de capa caída. La amnistía y las reformas legales habían ido a la base de su negocio. Ahora, señala, eso <strong>solo lo pueden hacer grandes multinacionales</strong>. Y esas no iban a Mossack. <div class="articlephoto news-width-text"></div>
      • post_titlePanamá: cómo abogados españoles con causas por blanqueo ayudaron a Mossack
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptLos papeles de Panamá son un quién es quién de la abogacía. Bufetes condenados por fraude como Feliú, Pretus, De Miguel y Del Valle creaban firmas en paraísos fiscales
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      • post_modified2017-05-04 09:06:26
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      • post_content[caption id="" align="alignright" width="422"]<img src="http://3www.ecestaticos.com/imagestatic/clipping/32d/65c/d23/32d65cd234e39c36d8c14ae043c0fd17/imagen-sin-titulo.jpg?mtime=1457032335" alt="" width="422" height="508" /> Fracois Hollande (izquierda), junto al barón David de Rothschild.[/caption] <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">La justicia española sigue apuntando alto. Un juez de Parla <a style="font-weight: bold; color: #1187b8;" href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2016-02-17/operacion-banco-chino-icbc-blanqueo-capitales_1153722/">ordenó registrar la sede en España del banco chino ICBC</a>, otro imputó a la <a style="font-weight: bold; color: #1187b8;" href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2016-02-22/imputacion-american-express-trappit-estafa-pyme-espanola-kenneth-chenault_1155222/">cúpula mundial de American Express por estafa</a> y ahora un juez de Dénia (Alicante) ha enviado una comisión rogatoria (una petición de auxilio judicial) a Francia para interrogar al <span style="font-weight: bold;">barón David de Rothschild</span>, presidente del banco del mismo nombre y prestigioso banquero. Pretende tomarle declaración por una denuncia de<span style="font-weight: bold;"> publicidad engañosa</span> que unos jubilados británicos presentaron en su juzgado. Como decenas de parejas que se vieron atrapadas en un producto financiero complejo que la banca Rothschild vendía en la costa española para <span style="font-weight: bold;">ahorrar dinero en el impuesto de sucesiones</span>.</p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">El pasado martes, el titular del juzgado de instrucción número 1 de Dénia,<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pedro Pablo Abad Ortiz</span>, recibió la traducción del interrogatorio que las acusaciones quieren realizar al barón <a style="font-weight: bold; color: #1187b8;" href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_de_Rothschild" target="_blank">David de Rothschild</a> y acordó remitir "la comisión rogatoria junto a las preguntas propuestas por las partes personadas al órgano competente en París".</p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">Así, el barón David de Rothschild, presidente de la <a style="font-weight: bold; color: #1187b8;" href="https://www.rothschild.com/" target="_blank">banca del mismo nombre</a>, heredero del linaje de banqueros más importantes del mundo, deberá responder a la publicidad que su banco realizó en España hace una década en la costa española. Entonces vendía entre jubilados británicos en la costa, principalmente Málaga, Alicante o Baleares, una especie de hipoteca inversa para reducir el impuesto de sucesiones. Simplificando, el esquema era algo así: Rothschild daba una hipoteca sobre la casa, un intermediario invertía ese dinero y con los rendimientos se devolvía el préstamo y con intereses. Además, al estar hipotecada en el extranjero, si fallecía uno de los cónyuges se reduciría el impuesto de sucesiones. Negocio redondo. Así consiguió en España unas 130 hipotecas, que a una media de 600.000 euros, suman <span style="font-weight: bold;">unos 70 millones de euros</span>, según calcula Antonio Flores, <a style="font-weight: bold; color: #1187b8;" href="http://www.lawbird.com/" target="_blank">abogado de los demandantes</a>, con sede en Marbella y especializado en defender a extranjeros en la costa.</p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="summary block-summary" style="font-weight: bold;">La publicidad decía: "Una hipoteca es una forma muy efectiva de reducir el valor total de su vivienda española expuesta al impuesto de sucesiones”</span></p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">El problema es que, con la crisis, las inversiones se fueron a pique y los jubilados pasaban a estar hipotecados. De repente debían un préstamo al banco Rothschild. Rothschild defendió que el contrato tenia dos partes: su hipoteca, y la inversión, que realizaba un agente externo, por lo que no era culpa suya si había ido mal. Así se defendió con éxito en los tribunales. En enero de 2015, <span style="font-weight: bold;">una jueza de Marbella ya dio la razón al banco frente a una pareja de jubilados</span>. La sentencia considera que "no es admisible alegar desconocimiento de los riesgos que asumían" y que la documentación demostraba que <span style="font-weight: bold;">ese producto financiero "tenía riesgos"</span>. El fallo distingue entre quien dio la hipoteca, Rothschild, y el intermediario financiero que se encargaba de mover el dinero. Rothschild alega además que no ha ejecutado las hipotecas a quienes no han pagado y que está negociando caso a caso.</p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">Flores emprendió una vía judicial distinta en Dénia. Allí, unos clientes habían denunciado a responsables de la banca Rothschild por estafa y la causa fue archivada. Pero Flores lo retomó bajo la acusación de "publicidad engañosa". Aportó <span style="font-weight: bold;">los folletos que Rothschild</span> repartía en encuentros en hoteles con expatriados. Uno distribuido en Marbella en 2007 decía: “Demasiados expatriados descubren de forma dolorosa que el impuesto de sucesiones no funciona en España como funciona en su propio país. Esto afecta a los propietarios de viviendas en España, no solo a los residentes; <span style="font-weight: bold;">el tipo extremo del impuesto de sucesiones es del 81,6%</span>. La respuesta es minimizar el número de activos expuesto a esto". Y añadía que "<span style="font-weight: bold;">una hipoteca es una forma muy efectiva de reducir el valor total de su vivienda española expuesta al impuesto de sucesiones”</span>. En uno de los folletos, un hacha partía una casa por la mitad, en alusión a lo que haría la Agencia Tributaria con las propiedades de los herederos de un fallecido.</p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="summary block-summary" style="font-weight: bold;">Vendían a jubilados un producto para rebajar el impuesto de sucesiones en España</span></p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">Antonio Flores esgrime una consulta a la Agencia Tributaria en la que responde que <span style="font-weight: bold;">hipotecar una vivienda en el exterior para deducirse el impuesto de sucesiones es un fraude</span>. "Vendían un producto en masa con una publicidad que es mentira. La publicidad era constante y machacona". Como entonces no había responsabilidad penal de las empresas, pidió que declarase el máximo responsable, el barón David de Rothschild. "Él tuvo que haberse reunido con la gente que se encargaba de esto". "Básicamente se trata de que la publicidad se basa en su mayor parte en que el préstamo es para deducir el impuesto de sucesiones y eso es un fraude, a sabiendas o no, pero es un fraude", señala Flores, que recuerda que las inversiones luego se hacían desde territorios como la Isla de Mann o Guernsey, opacos al fisco español.</p> <p style="color: #1a1a1a;">El caso tiene una singularidad, que Rothschild no está aún personado en la causa. En octubre de 2014, el juez llegó a mandar a la policía a las oficinas de Rothschild en Madrid para ver si le daban las señas de David de Rothschild o Stephen Dewnship, un directivo. Nadie les dio una dirección. Los Rothschild son uno de los grandes linajes de banqueros e industriales del mundo. Su lema es <span style="font-weight: bold;">'Concordia, Integritas, Industria</span>' (<a style="font-weight: bold; color: #1187b8;" href="https://www.rothschild.com/about_rothschild/our_values/" target="_blank">harmonía, integridad e industria</a>). Cuenta con unos 2.800 empleados en 40 países.</p>
      • post_titleUn juez pide ayuda a Francia para interrogar al barón Rothschild por publicidad engañosa
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptIntenta interrogar al jefe de la banca Rothschild por un producto financiero fallido que su banco vendió a jubilados británicos en España para eludir el impuesto de sucesiones
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      • post_date2015-04-18 10:15:31
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      • post_content<div class="firstPar" style="color: #282828;"> Barry Gill, a British expat who has retired in Spain, claims to have lost more than £1m as a result of failed investments and a “scam” equity release scheme he undertook following advice from a firm which was not regulated to give financial advice. </div> <div style="text-align: center; margin: 30px;"><iframe src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=cyY2NrdDrAD3xP6AGAmgwOLDgJjIjbV-&pbid=ZTIxYmJjZDM2NWYzZDViZGRiOWJjYzc5" width="480" height="320" align="center" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"> </iframe></div> Mr Gill alleges that he was advised to take out a £900,000 mortgage on a £1m Spanish villa he owned outright. <div class="thirdPar" style="color: #282828;"> He said David Driver, OIB’s managing director, had told this would help him reduce his inheritance tax bill. </div> <div class="fourthPar" style="color: #282828;"> However, it has since emerged that the Spanish government views such arrangements as fraudulent. </div> <div class="fifthPar" style="color: #282828;"> <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a lawyer at <strong>Lawbird</strong> in Spain, who is now representing Mr Gill among a number of other OIB customers who are looking to pursue legal action against it, said: “OIB was operating illegally and was not registered to provide advice. Clients bought into speculative schemes to alleviate inheritance tax but many people have ended up losing their homes. </div> <div class="body" style="color: #282828;"> “There has been a lot of unregulated financial advice going on along the coast here and a lot of British people have lost a lot of money.” <ul class="storylist"> <li><span class="inner-li"><a style="color: #234b7b;" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/a/11544344" target="_blank"><strong>How rogue 'financial advisers' in Spain stung British pensioners for millions</strong></a></span></li> </ul> Mr Driver, who arranged the IHT avoidance scheme for Mr Gill and others, returned to Britain in 2012. Today he appears to be back in business running a financial firm called Jorvik Investment Services, based in York, which sells regulated investments to financial advisers. According to its website, the firm “will only entertain investments that offer the comfort and security that comes from being properly regulated”. However, according to the register of authorised firms and individuals held by the FCA, neither Mr Driver nor Jorvik is regulated. Mr Driver declined to comment on the matter. </div> Have you been the victim of a scam, or a rogue adviser, or have you seen anything suspicious? Email: katie.morley@telegraph.co.uk
      • post_titleHow I lost £1.5m in a fraudulent inheritance tax avoidance scheme
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      • post_date2015-04-18 09:07:45
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      • post_content<div class="storyHead" style="color: #282828;"> <h1 style="color: #1e1e1e;">A Telegraph Money investigation has found pensioners falling prey to rogue 'advisers' along the Costa del Sol. Their nightmare serves as a timely warning for people retiring in the UK</h1> <div id="newGigyaShareTop-Holder"></div> <div class="artIntro"> <div id="storyEmbSlide"> <div class="slideshow ssIntro"> <div class="nextPrevLayer"> <div class="ssImg"> <img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02902/calella_2902195b.jpg" alt="Calella in Spain" width="620" height="387" /> <div class="artImageExtras"> <div class="ingCaptionCredit"><span class="caption" style="color: #404040;">The Government is warning savers to be on 'red alert' for salesmen pushing 'too good to be true' investments, which could include shares in foreign property</span> <span class="credit" style="color: #999999;">Photo: Alamy</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="oneHalf gutter artBodyWide" style="color: #282828;"> <div class="story"> <div class="cl"></div> <div class="bylineComments"> <div> <div class="bylineImg"><a style="color: #234b7b;" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/katie-morley/"><img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03061/byline_3061587j.jpg" alt="" width="60" height="60" border="0" /></a></div> <p class="bylineBody" style="font-weight: bold; color: #3f3f3f;">By <a style="color: #234b7b;" title="Katie Morley" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/katie-morley/" rel="author">Katie Morley</a></p> </div> <p class="publishedDate" style="color: #3f3f3f;">7:20AM BST 18 Apr 2015</p> <div class="bylineSocialButtons"></div> </div> <div id="mainBodyArea"> <div class="firstPar"> When Malcolm and Fiona Straw handed their life savings to their financial adviser to invest in 2007, they were confident their money was being placed in good hands. </div> <div class="secondPar"> They met Robin Rogers, at one time an authorised UK financial adviser, through their local golf club in Marbella, Spain. A number of Mr Straw’s golfing friends had spoken very highly of him. </div> <div class="thirdPar"> Mr Straw, an ex-property developer, and his wife, a former teacher, retired in 2007 having sold a flat for €100,000, and they asked Mr Rogers for help investing the proceeds. They wanted to generate an income to replace the €7,000 yearly rent. They invested another €50,000 in 2012. </div> <div class="fourthPar"> <ul class="storylist"> <li><span class="inner-li"><a id="11542936" style="color: #234b7b;" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/11542936/How-I-lost-1.5m-in-a-fraudulent-inheritance-tax-avoidance-scheme.html"><strong>How I lost £1.5m in a fraudulent inheritance tax avoidance scheme</strong></a></span></li> </ul> Despite his credible appearance, Mr Rogers was working for a firm called Offshore Investment Brokers (OIB), which was not authorised to sell investments. He invested the Straws’ money in two highly risky unregulated funds, which suffered substantial losses. Mr Rogers withheld their statements and misled them into thinking their capital was safe. In fact, the €7,000 they drew each year was eating what remained of their money, and by 2014 nothing was left. </div> <div class="body"> Their unfortunate story serves as a timely warning to savers here and abroad, as sales of inappropriate investments are expected to rocket this year as one of the unintended consequences of the new pension freedoms, which give over-55s unfettered access to their retirement funds. The Government and other, legitimate advisers are warning savers to be on “red alert” for salesmen pushing “too good to be true” investments, which could include shares in car parks, “carbon credits”, foreign property, fine wines and a range of other assets – loosely categorised as “unregulated” funds. To gain “regulated” status, both investments and advisers must meet standards laid down by the appropriate regulator, which in Britain is the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). <img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03270/ym-front-couple_2_3270715b.jpg" alt="" width="620" height="387" name="ym-front-couple_2" /> ^{Malcolm and Fiona Straw’s fund lost 96pc of its value} If money remains within a pension it is almost certainly overseen by a regulated firm, conferring protection for the investor. Once the cash is withdrawn – and an estimated £24bn will be withdrawn over the next year – it is at risk of rogue “advisers” pushing unregulated investments. <i>Telegraph Money</i> has found evidence of such investments being marketed through cold calling, home visits, golf club social events, “pension review” websites and by salesmen claiming connections to bona fide, regulated financial advisers. According to the FCA, around 75pc of unregulated investments result in losses for private investors. But the people selling them are well trained to ensure they sound very attractive. Typically they make promises of “guaranteed yields” or high income payments, something many retired people desperately need. In November last year, Mr Rogers visited the Straws’ family home and reassured them that their savings were worth a healthy £94,000. But then, when one of their income payments came through in chunks instead of a single lump sum, they had misgivings. Several years previously they had received two warning letters about the balance in one of their investments, as it had suspended payments because of “liquidity issues”. But they said Mr Rogers told them this was a mistake and urged them to destroy the papers. He also said the staggered payment was a mistake, and that he’d applied for “compensation” for lost interest. The investment was held within a bond provided by Old Mutual Wealth, a properly authorised, and entirely legitimate, business. It confirmed to <i>Telegraph Money</i> that between September 2007 and December 2014, when the Straws’ money was invested, one of their funds, an unregulated collective property investment called Glanmore, lost more than 96pc of its value. Another, a fund called the Protected Assets Trust, which invested in traded insurance policies, fared much better, but still failed to make any returns in the period. In December the couple were horrified to receive a “surrender valuation” letter from Old Mutual, the company holding the investments, showing that their fund was worth £15,723 after charges of £4,762 had been deducted. No longer able to get hold of Mr Rogers, and feeling increasingly desperate, the Straws complained to Stein Group, a subsidiary of a larger regulated firm, Blacktower Financial Management, which acquired OIB in 2012. They met the director, Stuart Langan, who looked into their affairs and admitted that Mr Rogers had been at fault. But Mr Langan claimed that his firm was not responsible for their losses as Mr Rogers was a subcontractor, rather than an employee. He claimed to have suspended Mr Rogers, although at the time of going to press he remained listed on Stein Group’s website as a “key member of staff”. Mr Langan told <i>Telegraph Money</i>: “I have responsibility over Robin Rogers, but I do not have responsibility for him, or for the things he did, prior to working for me. Stein only bought servicing rights of OIB so we are not liable for the Straws’ losses – what it says [about Stein Group acquiring OIB] on our website is a mistake.” Mr Rogers did not return our emails. Our investigation unearthed a number of other pensioners who have also suffered major losses as a result of advice given by OIB. Another British man, Barry Gill, claimed to have lost more than £1m as a result of failed investments and a “scam” equity release scheme he undertook following advice from the firm. He said he had invested £250,000 and that OIB had again split it between Glanmore and the Protected Assets Trust. <img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03270/yomo-front1-copy_3270714e.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" name="yomo-front1-copy" align="left" /> Mr Gill (pictured left) alleged that he was advised to take out a £900,000 mortgage on a £1m Spanish villa he owned outright. He said David Driver, OIB’s managing director, had told this would help him reduce his inheritance tax bill. However, it has since emerged that the Spanish government views such arrangements as fraudulent. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a lawyer at <strong>Lawbird</strong> in Spain, who is now representing a number of OIB’s customers who are looking to pursue legal action against it, said: “OIB was operating illegally and was not registered to provide advice. Clients bought into speculative schemes to alleviate inheritance tax but many people have ended up losing their homes. “There has been a lot of unregulated financial advice going on along the coast here and a lot of British people have lost a lot of money.” Mr Driver, who arranged the IHT avoidance scheme for Mr Gill and others, returned to Britain in 2012. Today he appears to be back in business running a financial firm called Jorvik Investment Services, based in York, which sells regulated investments to financial advisers. According to its website, the firm “will only entertain investments that offer the comfort and security that comes from being properly regulated”. However, according to the register of authorised firms and individuals held by the FCA, neither Mr Driver nor Jorvik is regulated. Mr Driver declined to comment on the matter. <i><strong>Have you been the victim of a scam or a rogue adviser, or have you seen anything suspicious? Email: katie.morley@telegraph.co.uk</strong></i> </div> </div> </div> </div>
      • post_titleHow rogue 'financial advisers' in Spain stung British pensioners for millions
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      • post_modified2015-04-19 10:07:33
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      • post_date2015-01-15 23:37:48
      • post_date_gmt2015-01-15 22:37:48
      • post_content<p style="color: #000000;"><strong><img class="alignright wp-image-1473 size-medium" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/manilva-country-club-300x225.jpg" alt="manilva country club" width="300" height="225" />Según la sentencia, los inversores habían adquirido seis viviendas y habían abonado anticipos, pero fueron "deficientemente finalizadas", únicamente obteniendo la licencia de primera ocupación una fase de la promoción, si bien con considerable retraso, "más de cuatro años". Los condenados son Manilva Costa S.A y la antigua Cajasol.</strong></p> <p style="color: #000000;">El Juzgado de Primera Instancia 1 de Estepona (Málaga) ha condenado solidariamente a la antigua Cajasol y a la promotora Manilva Costa S.A., en situación concursal, a devolver 600.000 euros, más los intereses correspondientes, a 11 ciudadanos británicos.</p> <p style="color: #000000;">Los inversores habían adquirido seis viviendas en el complejo Jardines de Manilva, desarrollado por la promotora Manilva Costa S.A., y habían abonado anticipos a la misma contra la presentación de un aval general que cubría, según el tenor del documento, hasta 2.500.000 de euros para 258 viviendas, según han precisado desde el despacho Lawbird Legal Services, que ha representado a los perjudicados.</p> <p style="color: #000000;">Dichas viviendas fueron "deficientemente finalizadas", únicamente obteniendo la licencia de primera ocupación una fase de la promoción, si bien con considerable retraso, "más de cuatro años". Con posterioridad, en septiembre de 2011, la promotora Manilva Costa presentó el que se consideró el cuarto mayor concurso de acreedores de Sevilla, con deudas cifradas en 100 millones de Euros, 30 millones de ellos a Cajasol, actualmente Caixabank.</p> La entidad bancaria se opuso a la demanda alegando que el aval cubría hasta el tope de 2.500.000 Euros, cifra "sobrepasada ampliamente", según la defensa letrada de la caja, según han precisado desde el despacho que representó a los afectados en un comunicado. El juez, por contrario, citando la Ley 57/1968 sobre percibo de cantidades anticipadas en la construcción y venta de viviendas, y jurisprudencia, ha elaborado la sentencia sobre la base de que "no se puede alegar el quantum del aval a los compradores que cumplieron con sus obligaciones". Así, en la resolución, que se puede recurrir, se concluye que "a quien ha cumplido debidamente sus obligaciones no se le puede hacer depender su derecho de reintegro por vicisitudes entre la promotora y entidades bancarias cuando además no existe prueba alguna de dicha entidad demandada de los motivos esgrimidos". El letrado del despacho <strong>Lawbird Legal Services</strong>, <strong>Luis González Ordoñez</strong>, actuando en representación de los demandantes británicos, ha considerado esta resolución "de vital importancia para futuros inversores cuya confianza en las garantías del sistema jurídico español, en demasiadas ocasiones puesto en duda, se ve reforzado con ocasión del dictado de sentencias que protegen a los consumidores". Ha apuntado que "aproximadamente 200 inversores pagaron a la promotora, mediante la firma de contrato de compra de vivienda sobre plano, una media de 100.000 euros por apartamento".
      • post_titleCondenan a una promotora y a una entidad a devolver 600.000 euros a inversores británicos
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      • post_modified2015-02-10 12:37:41
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          • post_date2015-02-10 12:36:20
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          • post_titlemanilva country club
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      • ID1447
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      • post_date2014-11-05 23:59:50
      • post_date_gmt2014-11-05 22:59:50
      • post_content[video align="center" aspect_ratio="16:9" width="100" autoplay="0"]http://youtu.be/2nDdaZ2TzC0[/video] <a href="http://www.rtve.es/television/20141105/comando-actualidad-ruinas-estrenar/1042582.shtml">Programa completo en RTVE.es</a> <p style="color: #333333;">Decenas de millones de euros con forma de esqueletos de hormigón o boquetes inmensos se desperdigan por toda nuestra geografía. Urbanizaciones desérticas, pistas de esquí en medio de la nada, parques acuáticos sin toboganes ni bañistas, u hospitales que se quedaron en las intenciones y en agujeros presupuestarios. Son postales que forman un paisaje imposible de borrar.</p> <p style="color: #333333;"><strong>Por toda la Región de Murcia surgen urbanizaciones sin terminar</strong> de construir, un paisaje que se repite por casi todo el litoral español. Francisco es uno de los 1.500 vecinos que compraron una de estas ruinas contemporáneas. Un vendedor de melones metido a promotor fue el impulsor de Trampolín Hills. Según uno de los técnicos de urbanismo éste es sólo uno de los ejemplos de empresarios que se aprovecharon de una recalificación prevista para construir ochocientas mil viviendas.</p> <h2 class="ladillo" style="color: #b00606;">Parque acuático a lo grande en Jaén</h2> <p style="color: #333333;">Jaén queda lejos de la playa, quizá por eso se consideró necesario un parque acuático a lo grande. Se invirtieron nueve millones de euros en rampas, desniveles, vasos de piscina y restaurantes. Cuando llegó la siguiente corporación municipal paró las obras. <strong>Hoy es un secarral parecido, según los vecinos, a la “cantera de los Picapiedra”</strong>.</p> <p style="color: #333333;">El ocio también era el destino de los <strong>diez millones de euros que se invirtieron en Villavieja del Cerro (Valladolid)</strong>. El presupuesto inicial se dobló porque “encontraron un material nuevo y mejor”, según uno de los responsables de la Diputación.<strong> Ahora hay que derribar la pista de esquí sin haberla estrenado</strong>: fue construida sobre un monte quemado, algo ilegal.</p> <p style="color: #333333;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1475" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/fortuna-golf-1.jpg" alt="fortuna golf 1" width="300" height="208" />En Madrid se realiza periódicamente una visita guiada por lo que pudo ser y no ha sido, o lo que fue pero duró poco tiempo. Tal es el caso de la estación y las vías de Cercanías que llevaban al Parque Warner. La estación está cerrada 10 años después de su inauguración y la catenaria desmantelada para que no la roben. En el mismo recorrido se ve <strong>la costosa cimentación de un rascacielos que nunca se levantó</strong>.</p>
      • post_titleLa Fortuna Golf in Comando Actualidad - TVE1
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          • post_date2015-02-10 12:39:25
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          • post_titlefortuna golf 1
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  • 13(array)
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      • ID1454
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      • post_date2014-10-31 17:01:29
      • post_date_gmt2014-10-31 16:01:29
      • post_content<h2>A group of retirees is going to court after signing up for a plan to reduce inheritance duty</h2> [caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"]<img src="http://ep01.epimg.net/politica/imagenes/2014/10/29/actualidad/1414601800_440134_1414609559_noticia_normal.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="450" /> Julia Hilling (91) and Peter Cosgrove (84). / GARCÍA-SANTOS[/caption]   <p class="figcaption estirar" style="color: #878787;">More than 20 British retirees resident in Spain are taking legal action against the Rothschild financial services group, accusing it of fraudulent advertising for complex financial packages designed to avoid paying inheritance tax on their homes, which they now stand to lose. A court in Denia has since summoned <a style="color: #016ca2;" href="http://www.rothschild.com/David_de_Rothschild/">Baron David Rothschild</a>, the chairman of Rothschild bank, to answer questions in relation to its investigation into the alleged fraud.</p> Between 2005 and 2008 independent financial advisers operating in areas such as the Balearic Islands, Alicante and Malaga, sold pensioners loans that would release equity on their homes and see the cash invested in a fund, allowing them to enjoy inheritance tax benefits. The products were provided by a variety of banks, mainly in Scandinavia, but also by Rothschild. The investment banking company sold around 130 of these products, which were distributed in Spain through the bank’s Credit Select Series Mortgage loan. Rothschild says that the activity was carried out by its Guernsey-based entity in the Channel Islands, outside the jurisdiction of the UK government or UK regulators. <div id="sumario_2|html" class="centro"> <a style="color: #016ca2;" name="sumario_2"></a> <p class="texto_grande">Peter Cosgrove was warned that 80 percent of the value of his home would be lost if it were left to a friend</p> </div> Among those who stand to lose their homes are Julia Hilling, aged 91, and Peter Cosgrove, 84, who retired to the Malaga resort towns of Fuengirola and Mijas in the 1980s. Hilling says she signed up to the Credit Select Series Mortgage loan in 2006 on the understanding that it would reduce inheritance tax on her home – in doing so, she was effectively remortgaging her property. The following year, Cosgrove says he was contacted by a supposed financial advisor who warned him that as he did not have any family to leave his property to, 80 percent of the value of his home would be lost if it were left to a friend. “I thought that was ridiculous,” he says. <div id="sumario_3|html" class="centro"> <a style="color: #016ca2;" name="sumario_3"></a> <p class="texto_grande">The investments proved worthless, due in large part to the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the financial crisis</p> </div> The solution, says Cosgrove, was to take out a loan with the Rothschild Bank using his home, which cost him €75,000, and to then invest the money from the loan, which would bring him in around €5,000 annually for the next decade. He would be able to pay back the loan with the interest from his investments. In the event that he died before the loan was repaid, there would be no inheritance tax, as the money had been invested outside Spain. Cosgrove signed, but says he had no idea that what he was actually doing was taking out a €290,000 loan, and putting his house, which had already been paid for, up as collateral. Others who signed similar agreements borrowed as much as €1 million. <div style="padding: 20px; margin: 15px 15px 15px 0; float: left; width: 50%; background-color: #f2f2f2;"> <h2 style="color: #30302b;">“They made Spain out to be like the Soviet Union”</h2> <img src="http://ep01.epimg.net/elpais/imagenes/2014/10/31/inenglish/1414757329_859856_1414767349_sumario_normal.jpg" alt="" width="auto" height="390" /> A cartoon from an ad related to Spanish inheritance tax. <p style="color: #30302b;">One of the law firms representing around 15 people pursuing Rothschild for compensation have pamphlets issued by the bank to sell its Credit Select Series Mortgage loans, which clearly focus on them as a way to avoid paying inheritance tax in Spain. “They made Spain seem like the Soviet Union, with taxes that were all about confiscating your money,” says Salvador Martínez Echevarría of Cremades y Calvo Sotelo, a law firm based in Marbella.</p> <p style="color: #30302b;">“Too many expats have learned the hard way that Spain’s inheritance tax doesn’t work the same way as their own country’s. This affects anybody who owns a property in Spain, not just residents: the upper limit on inheritances is 81.6 percent. The solution is to reduce the amount of your assets exposed to this […] a mortgage is a very effective way of reducing the total value of your Spanish property exposed to inheritance tax,” reads one Rothschild brochure being used in the lawsuit against the firm.</p> </div> Cosgrove says that he received €13,200 in advance, but that his investments soon proved worthless, due in large part to the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the subsequent financial crisis that hit markets around the world. He found himself having to pay a mortgage on a property he thought he already owned. “Three months after I signed, I was told that I owed €3,000 and that I was in default.” A few months after that he stopped paying altogether. Rothschild was not the only bank selling financial packages to people who did not understand them. Norwegian and Islandic banks were also seeking out Scandinavian retirees along the Spanish coast, warning them about Spain’s inheritance tax, which sets a maximum of 34 percent for property left to family members, but can reach as high as 81.6 percent for the super wealthy who have no family. Cosgrove and Hilling say that they saw Rothschild’s involvement in the financial packages as a guarantee of their legitimacy. The bank was set up in 1798 by a German Jewish family, and over the centuries has become synonymous with high finance. So far, none of the 130 people who signed up for the mortgage have had their homes repossessed, while Rothschild says that it is prepared to negotiate a solution. It points out that it only provided the loan, and was not involved in the investment side of the deal, which was carried out by financial intermediaries based in Spain, most of whom were British. In an emailed response, the investment banking company says: “Rothschild provided a small number of mortgages in Spain acting solely as a lender.” It adds that it advised borrowers to take independent legal advice before going through with the loan: “All the loans were signed in the presence of a notary public to make sure that the signatories understood the contract. Rothschild did not provide advice. Rothschild believes that it met its legal and regulatory obligations at all times.” <div id="sumario_4|html" class="centro"> <a style="color: #016ca2;" name="sumario_4"></a> <p class="texto_grande">The bank points out that it only provided the loan, and was not involved in the investment side of the deal</p> </div> But one of the international financial advisers involved, Adrian Church, says that Rothschild was behind the loans: “If they say they had nothing to do with it, let’s just say they’re being economical with the truth.” <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a Malaga-based lawyer representing around a dozen of the people who took out loans through Rothschild has managed to get a court in Denia to investigate Rothschild for fraudulent advertising. Flores says Rothschild offered a product, the Credit Select Series Mortgage Loan, that was sold to pensioners as a legal means to reduce the value of their otherwise unencumbered homes, for Inheritance Tax mitigation purposes, but that the Tax Agency, on the contrary, has ruled that such scheme <a style="color: #016ca2;" href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/spanish-tax-office-will-not-accept-equity-release-to-mitigate-taxes/">constitutes fraud</a>. “In short, independently of what happened to the investment, Rothschild advertised a loan aimed at reducing inheritance tax, which is a breach of tax law,” says Flores.
      • post_titleThe Brits who tried to cut their tax bills, but could now lose their homes
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      • post_date2014-05-11 19:00:37
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      • post_content  <ul> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>Nigel Goldman, 56, went on the run after police in Spain launched probe</b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>He is being investigated in Spain and the UK over £2.5 million fraud claims </b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>But a newspaper tracked him down to his modest bolthole in Berkshire</b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>Now he fears gang bosses are coming to get him at his new home </b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldman said: 'There is a bullet out there with my name on it'</span></li> </ul> A British poker ace who disappeared from Spain <span id="ext-gen47">after allegedly stealing more than £2.5 million from investors is living in fear that hitmen are coming to kill him at his bolthole in Berkshire.</span>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Playboy Nigel Goldman, who is being investigated by authorities in Spain and the UK, fled his Costa del Sol mansion in November.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">His whereabouts were then exposed when a newspaper tracked him down to a modest house in the picturesque village of Kintbury, where he lives under the alias Howard del Monte.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">But the 56-year-old, who counts James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher among his social circle, is now convinced gang bosses want him dead.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font"><b>Scroll down for video</b></p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-daa242decc983ac6" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/11/article-2625484-1D91DC6900000578-600_634x727.jpg" alt="Fearing for his life: Nigel Goldman, from Birmingham, who is wanted by Spanish police after vanishing from his luxury Costa del Sol mansion amid a major cash probe" width="634" height="727" data-track-pos="0" /> <div id="share-pictures-1" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Fearing for his life: Nigel Goldman, from Birmingham, who is wanted by Spanish police after vanishing from his luxury Costa del Sol mansion amid a major cash probe</p> </div>       <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-cbc9b3e2c2cf168c" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-1D91DC3A00000578-520_638x427.jpg" alt="Goldman, who drove a red Ferrari, has been found living in a modest home in the picturesque village of Kintbury, Berkshire under the alias of Howard del Monte" width="638" height="427" data-track-pos="1" /> <div id="share-pictures-2" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Goldman, who drove a red Ferrari, has been found living in a modest home in the picturesque village of Kintbury, Berkshire under the alias of Howard del Monte.</p> </div>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">He told <a style="font-weight: bold; color: #003580;" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigel-goldman-playboy-run-marbella-3523289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Sunday People</a>: 'There is a bullet out there with my name on it. A guy came to the door a few days ago but I refused to open it.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'He shouted that I was "a dead man" and from an upstairs window I saw him pull a gun out of his pocket.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'It was terrifying. I know he was sent to murder me. I called the police but he drove off ad high speed before they arrived.'</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman said he now fears someone will come back to 'finish me off'.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman is being investigated by the Guardia Civil and Action Fraud, the UK's fraud and internet crime reporting centre.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Earlier this year the only trace of Goldman since he vanished in Marbella was a text message to a former employer three weeks ago which read: 'I did not set out to be a thief.'</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Spanish police were probing claims that the broker from Edgbaston in Birmingham, left people empty handed and unable to access their bank funds.</p> <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="splitLeft"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-a7ae51adcdcd579c" class="blkBorder img-share alignright" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/11/article-2625484-1D91DC4A00000578-496_306x423.jpg" alt="Nigel Goldman, who is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing from investors, was found living in a semi-detached house in Berkshire" width="306" height="423" data-track-pos="2" /> <div id="share-pictures-3" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> </div> </div> <div class="splitRight"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-d93a889ec077aae5" class="blkBorder img-share alignright" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/11/article-2625484-1D91DC7800000578-968_306x423.jpg" alt="Nigel Goldman, who is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing from investors, was found living in a semi-detached house in Berkshire" width="306" height="423" data-track-pos="3" /> <div id="share-pictures-4" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Nigel Goldman, who is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing from investors, was found living in a semi-detached house in Berkshire</p> </div>   </div>       <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-ce9da6a6c454e157" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-1D91DC7D00000578-272_638x440.jpg" alt="From the Costa del Sol to Berkshire: Nigel Goldman is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing more than 3million euros from investors" width="638" height="440" data-track-pos="4" /> <div id="share-pictures-5" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">From the Costa del Sol to Berkshire: Nigel Goldman is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing more than 3million euros from investors</p> </div>       <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-af113cede8eb8a32" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-1D91DC4500000578-54_638x560.jpg" alt="Goldman's lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira" width="638" height="560" data-track-pos="5" /> <div id="share-pictures-6" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Goldman's lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira</p> </div>   <div class="moduleFull"><a class="namedLink" style="color: #003580;" name="video"></a> <div class="item"> <div id="v-3555850176001"> <div class="videoplayer-large"> <div class="videoplayer-title-bg"></div> <div class="videoplayer-title" style="color: #f5f5f5;">Nigel Goldman speaking after the Marbella Classic Poker 770</div> <div class="btnBg"></div> <center><img class="plcHlder" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/11/video-undefined-1DBF6FFC00000578-955_636x358.jpg" alt="" /></center></div> <div class="news"></div> </div> </div> </div>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Police were unable to trace him after they received complaints about his Tangier-based company, International Financial Investment.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Ex-pat newspaper The Olive Press, based in Spain, tracked Goldman down using details on his eBay account Bensons Emporium.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">He uses the site to buy and sell coins, stamps and antiques.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">It was reported his lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his red Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">But a neighbour said: 'Everyone in the village knows he's Goldman, whatever name he goes under.'</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Geoff Whitton, originally from Cornwall, is trying to locate €20,000 he says he handed to Goldman. The 49-year-old writer said: ‘If he's a legitimate businessman, why hasn't he contacted me?</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'I gave €10,000 in May, 2012, and €10,000 two months later. Goldman made me a profit for two months, then a loss for the same amount.</p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="splitLeft"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-821830295d124088" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-0000C87200000CB2-287_308x425.jpg" alt="Hewitt" width="308" height="425" data-track-pos="6" /> <div id="share-pictures-7" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> </div> <div class="splitRight"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-8b615a13a9ebcf2a" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-000EF26600000258-828_308x425.jpg" alt="Thatcher" width="308" height="425" data-track-pos="7" /> <div id="share-pictures-8" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <p class="imageCaption">Goldman is said to have moved in the same social circles as cad James Hewitt (left) and Sir Mark Thatcher.</p> </div> 'For the next one-and-a-half years, I was in limbo. He'd say, "Just trust me and you will receive a profit in October 2013".' Goldman, who enjoys swigging champagne and smoking expensive cigars, has a history of dishonesty, in his own book, 'High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million' published in 2006, he confesses being sent to prison twice for fraud.   <p class="mol-para-with-font">A review on his book reads: 'Goldman seems to show little remorse - and more than a little contempt - for the victims whose money he lived off so handsomely.'</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Despite his past, Goldman is claiming that he, and others, have been duped this time and believes his brokers were running a Ponzi scheme with everyone's money.</p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-a2f9fcfddad04547" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/11/article-2625484-1D92F70D00000578-326_636x463.jpg" alt="From the Costa del Sol to this sleepy Berkshire village Kintbury" width="636" height="463" data-track-pos="8" /> <div id="share-pictures-9" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +9 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">From the Costa del Sol to this sleepy Berkshire village Kintbury</p> </div>       <p class="mol-para-with-font">A Ponzi scheme is an investment operation that pays returns to its investors from existing capital or new capital paid by new investors, rather than from profit earned by the individual or organisation running the operation.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman has admitted in writing to owing as much as £658,000 (€800,000). However a lawyer acting for investors who claim to have lost cash is stating that he is chasing €3 million, a figure rising daily.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Flashy Goldman made his name at some of the world's biggest poker tournaments around the world, winning thousands.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores,</strong> said: 'So far we have spoken to victims in Almeria, Malaga and Jaen. In our most recent estimate it looks like reaching €3 million.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'The first thing he did right was openly admit to all his wrongdoings and say he paid for it and was a new man.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'That was a success. People could not talk about his past, people actually felt sorry for him. It is large scale, police have not yet issued an arrest warrant, but they are not far from doing that.'</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities including bullion, stocks and shares although he is not a regulated financial advisor due to his criminal convictions.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Roger Parks, a neighbour and friend of Goldman said that he even tried to get him to invest, although he chose not to, he said: 'I have known him for 35 years.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'When he showed me the prospectus for International Financial Investments at his palatial rented home in Elviria a few months ago, I couldn't stopped laughing.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">'By the way, has anyone else noted the initials of his company spell IFI, as if "iffy"?'</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">A spokesman for Action Fraud confirmed complains had been lodged with the organisation about Goldman.</p>   <p id="ext-gen48" class="mol-para-with-font">If those complaints are upheld, information gathered will be passed to either the Metropolitan Police or Fraud Investigation Bureau.</p>  
      • post_titlePlayboy on the run over claims he stole £2.5m from Marbella investors fears hitmen are coming to kill him in Berkshire hideaway
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      • post_content[caption id="" align="alignright" width="345"]<img src="http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Nigel-Goldman.-NTI_PLAYBOY_GOLDMAN_13-345x495.jpg" alt="" width="345" height="495" /> Nigel Goldman[/caption] <p style="font-weight: bold; color: #222222;"><strong>A MAN previously convicted of fraud who owes investment clients a small fortune is living quietly in Kintbury after his champagne lifestyle in Marbella turned sour.</strong></p> <p style="color: #222222;">It is claimed he owes millions to creditors in Spain after his high-rolling investment scheme crashed and is now being investigated by Spanish and British police.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">But Howard del Monte – formerly known as Nigel Goldman – has claimed in an exclusive interview with the Newbury Weekly News that he never intended for anyone to lose out, and branded some of the more lurid international press reports about him “lies”.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">Speaking from his rented cottage in Kintbury, he said he had been hounded by the international press, national reporters and private detectives in recent months and weeks and still fears extradition to Spain.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">By his side was loyal partner Suzanne Couling, a former Inkpen resident who met Mr Del Monte during an 11-year sojourn in Spain.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">He was a well-known and colourful figure in the Marbella area for many years – where he had rebuilt his life following two prison terms for fraud whilst living in the UK – and persuaded many expats to invest in his investment companies.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">Mr del Monte, originally from Birmingham, said this week: “It’s totally untrue that I owe £13 million, or more. The writ in Spain is for 650,000 euros and I very much regret that anyone had to lose money.”</p> <p style="color: #222222;">The self-styled poker wizard, who also dealt in gold and coins, said his latest adventures began in 2008 when he won a trading competition on Talk Radio Europe’s previous guise REM, in which he turned 100,000 euros into 2.7 million.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">After that, he said, would-be investors beat a path to his door pleading: “Make me rich, too.” Mr del Monte said: “I was approached by many expats, but because of my convictions under the Companies Act of 1948 for offences in the 1980s, the only way client funds could be handled was by trading through an off-shore entity.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">“Everyone got good dividends between 2008 and 2012. ”</p> <p style="color: #222222;">Speaking from his Kintbury home, Mr del Monte insisted he warned clients that their investments represented a gamble and that there were no guarantees.</p> <h2 class="h2" style="color: #222222;"><strong>The big crash and back to the UK.</strong></h2> <p style="color: #222222;">When the crash came, it came in spectacular fashion he claimed. He said: “It all went wrong over a 24-hour period – very badly wrong. My portfolio was completely wiped out. I had only taken my eye off the ball for an hour but sometimes that’s all it takes.”</p> <p style="color: #222222;">In August last year, said Mr del Monte, the Spanish tax authorities hit him with a bill at the same time as they froze all his accounts, including those of his clients. Despite vowing “never to return” to the UK in his autobiography, High Stakes, in which he also talks of amassing a £14million fortune, Mr del Monte was left with little choice but to come back to his home country.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">He said: “I was totally unable to operate. I decided to come back to the UK. I was out of money, selling personal assets to pay clients.”</p> <p style="color: #222222;">He claimed he was sympathetic to those clients who had lost out but insisted: “I was always careful to ensure people weren’t investing life savings and that they could afford to trade. But the Spanish press have started a campaign against me.”</p> <p style="color: #222222;">Asked if, with hindsight, he would have handled the fallout differently, Mr del Monte said: “The mistake I made was coming back without explaining fully what had happened and why I was leaving. I could have handled that much better.”</p> <p style="color: #222222;">He left Spain at the end of last year and was located this month by expat newspaper The Olive Press through his and Ms Couling’s joint ebay account. According to the paper, multiple complaints have been lodged about Nigel Goldman to Action Fraud UK – the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">Marbella-based lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores,</strong> currently representing a British expat couple who claim that Mr Goldman owes them around 640,000 euros, said he first became aware of Mr Goldman last October. <strong>Mr Flores </strong>added that although he is only representing one client, he said he is aware of “10 or 12” official complaints that have been made against Mr Goldman to the Marbella National Police since December 2013. He also said he believes Mr Goldman to owe “£2m – £2.5m” in total.</p> <p style="color: #222222;"><strong>Mr Flores</strong> said he believed official paperwork was being compiled by the Spanish police. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told the Newbury Weekly News that they were not aware of any complaints against Mr Goldman and said it would be the responsibility of the Spanish authorities to issue a European Arrest Warrant should they feel it necessary.</p> <h2 class="h2" style="color: #222222;"><strong>Reaction in Kintbury</strong></h2> <p style="color: #222222;">The story of Mr del Monte residing in Kintbury has been picked up by several national newspapers and has got tongues wagging in the village.</p> <p style="color: #222222;">One resident, who did not want to be named, told the Newbury Weekly News he was aware of a new face in the village who was calling himself ‘Howie’. “You can find Howie in the Blue Ball every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights playing poker,” he said, but added that he knew nothing of Mr del Monte’s past.</p> <p style="color: #222222;"><strong>For the full exclusive interview with Mr del Monte, see today’s Newbury Weekly News.</strong></p> <p style="color: #222222;"></p>
      • post_titleEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: £13m debt ‘all lies’ says former broker
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      • post_content<div class="storyHead" style="color: #282828;"> <h2 style="color: #404040;">British businessman hunted by police Costa del Sol found to be living in rural Berkshire</h2> <div class="artIntro"> <div id="storyEmbSlide"> <div class="slideshow ssIntro"> <div class="nextPrevLayer"> <div class="ssImg"><img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02901/nigel-goldman_2901280b.jpg" alt="Nigel Goldman is being investigated by the Guardia Civil and Action Fraud" width="620" height="387" /> <div class="artImageExtras"> <div class="ingCaptionCredit"><span class="caption" style="color: #404040;">Nigel Goldman is being investigated by the Guardia Civil and Action Fraud</span> <span class="credit" style="color: #999999;">Photo: SWNS</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="oneHalf gutter" style="color: #282828;"> <div class="story"> <div class="cl"></div> <div class="byline"> <div> <p class="bylineBody" style="font-weight: bold; color: #3f3f3f;">By Agencies</p> </div> <p class="publishedDate" style="color: #3f3f3f;">8:06PM BST 04 May 2014</p> <div class="cl"></div> </div> <div id="mainBodyArea"> <div class="firstPar"> A British businessman who has been on the run from Spanish police for allegedly stealing EUROS 3 million from investors has been found living in a semi-detached house in Berkshire. </div> <div class="secondPar"> Nigel Goldman, 56, who claims to be a close friend of Sir Mark Thatcher and James Hewitt, is being investigated by the Guardia Civil and Action Fraud, the UK's fraud and internet crime reporting centre. </div> <div class="thirdPar"> He vanished earlier this year from Marbella after police received complaints about his Tangier-based company, International Financial Investment. </div> <div class="fourthPar"> They were investigating claims the broker, originally from Edgbaston, Birmingham, had left people empty handed and unable to access their bank funds. </div> <div class="fifthPar"> Goldman himself claims he, and other investors, were duped by his brokers who were running a Ponzi scheme - a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors from existing capital or new capital paid by new investors, rather than from profit. </div> <div class="body"> But now Goldman, who used to drive a red Ferrari, has been found living in a modest semi-detached house in the village of Kintbury, Berkshire, under the alias Howard del Monte. Ex-pat newspaper The Olive Press, based in Spain, tracked him down using details on his eBay account "Bensons Emporium". He uses the site to flog and buy coins, stamps and antiques. When approached at his Berkshire home Goldman refused to comment and his lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira. But a neighbour said: "Everyone in the village knows he's Goldman, whatever name he goes under." Goldman, a broker originally from Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been accused of leaving investors empty handed and unable to access their bank accounts. The last known contact anyone had with him was three weeks ago when he sent a text message to a former employer which read "I did not set out to be thief." Goldman, who enjoys swigging on champagne and smoking expensive cigars, has a history of dishonesty, in his own book, 'High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million' published in 2012, he confesses being sent to prison twice for fraud. Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities, including bullion, stocks and shares, although is not a regulated financial advisor due to his criminal convictions. Lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, said: "So far we have spoken to victims in Almeria, Malaga and Jaen. "In our most recent estimate it looks like reaching 3 million euros. "The first thing he did right was openly admit to all his wrongdoings and say he paid for it and was a new man. "That was a success. People could not talk about his past, people actually felt sorry for him. "It is large scale, police have not yet issued an arrest warrant, but they are not far from doing that." A spokesman for Auction fraud confirmed complaints had been lodged with the organisation about Goldman. If those complaints are upheld, information gathered will be passed to either the Metropolitan Police of Fraud Investigation Bureau. </div> </div> </div> </div>
      • post_titleBritish broker hunted by Spanish police found living in Wiltshire
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      • post_content  <ul> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>Nigel Goldman, 56, investigated by Guardia Civil in Spain and Action Fraud in Britain</b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>Texted a friend saying 'I did not set out to be a thief' </b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities including bullion, stocks and shares although he is not a regulated financial advisor</span></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>In his book, High Stakes: How I Blew £14million, he confesses that he has been jailed twice for fraud</b></li> <li style="color: #000000;"><b>Moved in same social circles as James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher</b></li> </ul> <span style="color: #000000;"> </span> <p class="mol-para-with-font">A British poker ace who disappeared from his Costa del Sol mansion and was being hunted by police for allegedly stealing more than €3million from investors, has been found living in Berkshire.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Playboy Nigel Goldman, 56, who counts James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher among his social circle, is being investigated by the Guardia Civil and Action Fraud, the UK's fraud and internet crime reporting centre.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Earlier this year the only trace of Goldman since he vanished in Marbella, was a text message to a former employer three weeks ago which read: ‘I did not set out to be a thief.’</p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-cbc9b3e2c2cf168c" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-1D91DC3A00000578-520_638x427.jpg" alt="Goldman, who drove a red Ferrari, has been found living in a modest home in the picturesque village of Kintbury, Berkshire under the alias of Howard del Monte" width="638" height="427" data-track-pos="0" /> <div id="share-pictures-1" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +5 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Goldman, who drove a red Ferrari, has been found living in a modest home in the picturesque village of Kintbury, Berkshire under the alias of Howard del Monte</p> </div>       <p class="mol-para-with-font">Spanish police were probing claims that the broker from Edgbaston in Birmingham, left people empty handed and unable to access their bank funds.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">However police were unable to trace him after they received complaints about his Tangier-based company, International Financial Investment.</p>   <div class="relatedItemsTopBorder"></div>   <div class="relatedItems"> <h4>More...</h4> <ul> <li><a style="color: #003580;" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2619927/They-not-destroy-life-British-teenager-acid-thrown-face-reveals-long-road-recovery-15-operations-recurring-dreams-wounds-healed.html">'They will not destroy my life': British teenager who had acid thrown in her face reveals long road to recovery with 15 operations already and recurring dreams that her wounds have healed</a></li> <li><a style="color: #003580;" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2620025/Gerry-Adams-released-without-charge-evening-Jean-McConville-murder-inquiry.html">BREAKING NEWS: Gerry Adams released from custody after 96 hours of questioning in Jean McConville murder inquiry</a></li> <li><a style="color: #003580;" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2620011/Wife-drugged-husband-doused-petrol-set-alight-jailed-22-years.html">Wife who drugged her husband then doused him in petrol and set him alight is jailed for 22 years</a></li> </ul> </div>       <p class="mol-para-with-font">But now Goldman, who drove a red Ferrari, has been found living in a modest house in the picturesque village of Kintbury, Berkshire under the alias of Howard del Monte.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Ex-pat newspaper The Olive Press, based in Spain, tracked him down using details on his eBay account Bensons Emporium.</p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-ce9da6a6c454e157" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-1D91DC7D00000578-272_638x440.jpg" alt="From the Costa del Sol to Berkshire: Nigel Goldman is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing more than 3million euros from investors" width="638" height="440" data-track-pos="1" /> <div id="share-pictures-2" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +5 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">From the Costa del Sol to Berkshire: Nigel Goldman is being hunted by police for allegedly stealing more than 3million euros from investors</p> </div>       <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-af113cede8eb8a32" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-1D91DC4500000578-54_638x560.jpg" alt="Goldman's lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira" width="638" height="560" data-track-pos="2" /> <div id="share-pictures-3" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +5 </div> </div> <p class="imageCaption">Goldman's lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira</p> </div>       <p class="mol-para-with-font">He uses the site to buy and sell coins, stamps and antiques.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">When approached at his Berkshire home Goldman refused to comment and his lavish lifestyle seems to have been scaled down with his Ferrari being replaced with a Vauxhall Zafira.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">But a neighbour said: ‘Everyone in the village knows he's Goldman, whatever name he goes under.’</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Geoff Whitton, originally from Cornwall, is trying to locate €20,000 he says he handed to Goldman. The 49-year-old writer said: ‘If he's a legitimate businessman, why hasn't he contacted me?</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘I gave €10,000 in May, 2012, and €10,000 two months later. Goldman made me a profit for two months, then a loss for the same amount.</p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="splitLeft"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-821830295d124088" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-0000C87200000CB2-287_308x425.jpg" alt="Hewitt" width="308" height="425" data-track-pos="3" /> <div id="share-pictures-4" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +5 </div> </div> </div> <div class="splitRight"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-8b615a13a9ebcf2a" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-0-000EF26600000258-828_308x425.jpg" alt="Thatcher" width="308" height="425" data-track-pos="4" /> <div id="share-pictures-5" class="share-pictures-overlay"></div> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery" style="color: #ffffff;"> <div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div> +5 </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <p class="imageCaption">Goldman is said to have moved in the same social circles as cad James Hewitt (left) and Sir Mark Thatcher</p> </div>       <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘For the next one-and-a-half years, I was in limbo. He'd say, "Just trust me and you will receive a profit in October 2013".’</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman, who enjoys swigging champagne and smoking expensive cigars, has a history of dishonesty, in his own book, 'High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million' published in 2006, he confesses being sent to prison twice for fraud.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">A review on his book reads: ‘Goldman seems to show little remorse - and more than a little contempt - for the victims whose money he lived off so handsomely.’</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Despite his past, Goldman is claiming that he, and others, have been duped this time and believes his brokers were running a Ponzi scheme with everyone's money.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">A Ponzi scheme is an investment operation that pays returns to its investors from existing capital or new capital paid by new investors, rather than from profit earned by the individual or organisation running the operation.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman has admitted in writing to owing as much as £658,000 (€800,000). However a lawyer acting for investors who claim to have lost cash is stating that he is chasing €3 million, a figure rising daily.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Flashy Goldman made his name at some of the world's biggest poker tournaments around the world, winning thousands.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, said: ‘So far we have spoken to victims in Almeria, Malaga and Jaen.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘In our most recent estimate it looks like reaching €3 million.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘The first thing he did right was openly admit to all his wrongdoings and say he paid for it and was a new man.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘That was a success. People could not talk about his past, people actually felt sorry for him.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘It is large scale, police have not yet issued an arrest warrant, but they are not far from doing that.’</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities including bullion, stocks and shares although he is not a regulated financial advisor due to his criminal convictions.</p>   <div class="clear"></div>   <div class="artSplitter"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic"><img id="i-a2f4d59f20006809" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/04/article-2620098-1D92F70D00000578-514_636x288.jpg" alt="From the Costa del Sol to this sleepy Berkshire village Kintbury" width="636" height="288" /></div> <p class="imageCaption">From the Costa del Sol to this sleepy Berkshire village Kintbury</p> </div>       <p class="mol-para-with-font">Roger Parks, a neighbour and friend of Goldman said that he even tried to get him to invest, although he chose not to, he said: ‘I have known him for 35 years.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘When he showed me the prospectus for International Financial Investments at his palatial rented home in Elviria a few months ago, I couldn't stopped laughing.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">‘By the way, has anyone else noted the initials of his company spell IFI, as if 'iffy'?’</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">A spokesman for Auction fraud confirmed complains had been lodged with the organisation about Goldman.</p>   <p class="mol-para-with-font">If those complaints are upheld, information gathered will be passed to either the Metropolitan Police or Fraud Investigation Bureau.</p>      
      • post_titlePlayboy who was on the run for allegedly stealing £2.5m from investors in Marbella discovered living in sleepy Berkshire village after newspaper tracks him down on eBay
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      • post_date2014-04-10 17:56:29
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      • post_content“La casa rosada” de la alcaldesa de <strong>Marbella, <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/cache/2009/04/01/espana_80_deslinde_punto_negocios_marido_alcaldesa_marbella.html">Ángeles Muñoz</a></strong>, sigue en punto de mira mientras se dirime en Sevilla el expediente de su supuesta legalidad. Desde que la Vicepresidencia y Consejería de Administración Local y Relaciones Institucionales pasara a manos de IU, el expediente está siendo “examinado con lupa”. Y se exige documentación “imprescindible para su legalización”. Esta vez es el mismo número dos de la Junta de Andalucía, <strong>Diego Valderas</strong>, el que en un informe al que ha tenido acceso <em>El Confidencial</em> comunica que “la Junta no tiene en su haber la información que ha requerido a los dos municipios, entre los que <a href="http://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/noticias/2014-04-03/la-alcaldesa-de-marbella-angeles-munoz-remodela-su-polemica-casa-rosada_111251/">se encuentra la casa de la regidora marbellí,</a> para resolver el expediente del contencioso del deslinde”. <a href="http://www.ecestaticos.com/file/13a8b495950e545cb762fde4488daf22/1397074829.pdf" target="_blank">.</a>En el documento, firmado por <a href="http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2012/05/05/diego-valderas-el-repartidor-de-butano-de-bollullos-97366">el aliado de Gobierno de <strong>Susana Díaz</strong></a>, se advierte a la alcaldesa que “los municipios no pueden mover los lindes a su antojo”, tal como hizo ella sometiendo el cambio de su vivienda a través de un pleno en el que aprobaba el deslinde con los votos del PP. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="485"]<a href="http://www.ecestaticos.com/file/13a8b495950e545cb762fde4488daf22/1397074829.pdf" target="_blank"><img title="Pinche para ver el documento." src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/5c9d2ac9f09428d1d575c5a585975466/pinche-para-ver-el-documento.jpg" alt="Pinche para ver el documento." width="485" height="680" /></a> Pinche para ver el documento[/caption] Los concejales de IU de Marbella se reúnen mañana en Sevilla con representantes de la Consejería de Administración Local para tratar este expediente, que según <strong>Enrique Monterroso</strong> “es un robo al territorio de Marbella”. El edil pertenece a la comisión de investigación sobre el deslinde con el municipio vecino de Benahavís y los posibles beneficios que la modificación ha supuesto para empresas promotoras del marido y otros familiares de la alcaldesa, Ángeles Muñoz. <strong>Informe nulo</strong> En el informe que firma Diego Valderas se puntualiza “que el procedimiento se halla en situación de parálisis dado que, pese a que se han hecho reiterados requerimientos al respecto los ayuntamientos afectados no han facilitado la comunicación mínimamente detallada para que el órgano instructor pueda proceder”. Monterroso dice que ha habido suficiente tiempo para que esta documentación se haya facilitado desde el 2009, pero que a ninguno de los dos municipios de Marbella y Benahavís regentados por el PP “les ha interesado”. <img title="El vicepresidente de la Junta de Andalucía, Diego Valderas. (EFE)" src="http://www.ecestaticos.com/image/clipping/38484e09d14ffbed0840a0cc3c242459/el-gobierno-andaluz-recurre-ante-el-constitucional-la-ley-de-reforma-local.jpg" alt="El vicepresidente de la Junta de Andalucía, Diego Valderas. (EFE)" />El vicepresidente de la Junta de Andalucía, Diego Valderas. (EFE) Para culminar el expediente, la Junta matiza que “sin la colaboración de los dos Ayuntamientos implicados no se podrá concluir”, “con la transcendencia que tiene para cualquier Ayuntamiento el hecho de contar con la delimitación precisa de su término municipal para el ejercicio válido de sus competencias en general”. Distintos políticos y juristas ya se han pronunciado al respecto. Uno de ellos, el abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, declara a este diario que “el enjuague privado que han hecho los dos municipios del PP donde tiene las propiedades el marido de la alcaldesa, <strong>Lars Broben</strong>, no es válido”. En este sentido asegura que “la ‘casa rosada’ hoy por hoy sigue siendo ilegal, a pesar de que ella se encargue de ir transmitiendo lo contrario. Hasta que la Junta se pronuncie con el cierre del expediente, la casa de Benahavís de la alcaldesa sigue siendo ilegal”.
      • post_titleVarapalo de Diego Valderas a la alcaldesa de Marbella por la legalidad de su casa
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:00
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          • post_date2014-05-04 19:30:11
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          • post_titlePinche para ver el documento.
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      • ID1214
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      • post_date2014-03-31 10:31:02
      • post_date_gmt2014-03-31 09:31:02
      • post_content<strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1216" style="margin: 25px;" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/una-mansion-de-cinco-millones-por-90.000-euros_detalle_articulo.jpg" alt="una-mansion-de-cinco-millones-por-90.000-euros_detalle_articulo" width="320" height="215" />Ángeles Muñoz, alcaldesa de Marbella, no incluyó en su declaración de bienes el valor real de su casa, que estuvo adscrita a una firma en Gibraltar, y sobre la que tiene suscrita una hipoteca en Luxemburgo. La oposición le critica que opere en paraísos fiscales; ella niega que haya cometido ilegalidad ni que tenga intención de defraudar al fisco. </strong>   Se levanta en un fondo de saco de la urbanización Vega del Colorado, entre Marbella y Benahavís. Al frente no tiene ningún vecino que interfiera las vistas. El jardín desemboca en un barranco verde, cuyo borde se eleva sobre la autopista AP7, lo suficientemente alejada como para que el eco del tráfico no turbe la paz del césped y las palmeras. Por delante, la extensión de lujosos chalés y clubes de golf de Nueva Andalucía, Puerto Banús y, al fondo, el mar. En el paseo que lleva a la entrada principal, una pequeña rotonda y un asta blanca en la que ondea una bandera de España de buen tamaño. Es la casa, en fin, de una mujer tan española como lo pueda ser Ángeles Muñoz Uriol, alcaldesa de Marbella. <img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1217" style="margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px;" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2013-03-31-Interviu-Lawbird-Angeles-Munoz-Luxemburgo.jpg" alt="2013-03-31-Interviu-Lawbird-Angeles-Munoz-Luxemburgo" width="500" height="649" />   <a href="http://pdf.interviu.es/edicion.php?eid=33334" target="_self">Si quieres leer el reportaje completo, descarga el número de la revista en PDF.</a>
      • post_titleUna mansión de cinco millones por 90.000 euros
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          • post_date2014-03-31 10:23:45
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      • post_date2014-03-20 21:39:17
      • post_date_gmt2014-03-20 20:39:17
      • post_content[caption id="attachment_1210" align="aligncenter" width="643"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1210 " style="margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px;" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Antonio-Lawbird-Marbella-Luxemburgo-JCV_EDIIMA20140320_0701_13.jpg" alt="Antonio-Lawbird-Marbella-Luxemburgo-JCV_EDIIMA20140320_0701_13" width="643" height="362" /> El abogado Antonio Flores, responsable de Lawbird, durante la rueda de prensa que ha ofrecido este jueves en Marbella sobre la inversión en Luxemburgo de la alcaldesa / JCV[/caption] <p style="text-align: left;">El responsable de la firma Lawbird, que destapó la inversión de Ángeles Muñoz en Luxemburgo, anima a la regidora a dar explicaciones públicas en lugar de denunciarle ante el Colegio de Abogados.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Antonio Flores sostiene que la operación de “ingeniería financiera” supondría el ahorro del 34% en el impuesto de sucesiones.</p> “Atribuimos a la alcaldesa la compra de un producto destinado a evadir impuestos”. Así de claro y contundente se ha mostrado este jueves el abogado Antonio Flores, responsable del bufete Lawbird, al corroborar <a href="http://www.eldiario.es/politica/alcaldesa-Marbella-invirtio-millones-Luxemburgo_0_234476880.html" target="_blank">la inversión de 3,1 millones de euros en una entidad bancaria de Luxemburgo en 2010</a> que llevó a cabo la sociedad Crasel Panorámica S.L.,  propiedad al cincuenta por ciento de la regidora marbellí, Ángeles Muñoz (PP). Flores, que ha comparecido en rueda de prensa durante más de una hora, ha apuntado, como novedad, que el producto financiero suscrito con el banco luxemburgués Nordea Bank SA podría suponer para la alcaldesa y demás beneficiarios “un ahorro del 34%  sobre el impuesto de sucesiones”. La sociedad de la alcaldesa contrató un crédito hipotecario de 3,1 millones sobre su mansión, tasada en 4,7 millones de euros en 2010. Se trata de un inmueble que nunca había tenido carga alguna desde que fue adquirido en 2003 por la alcaldesa y su marido, a través de una sociedad gibraltareña. “Nosotros no acusamos, sino que atribuimos a la alcaldesa la compra de un producto para no pagar impuestos”. Al tratarse del impuesto de sucesiones, el jurista ha aclarado que “no se defrauda  hasta que uno fallece”. Así pues, sostiene que “la evasión de impuestos en grado de tentativa no es delito, otra cosa es la cuestión política en la que no entramos”, en alusión al escándalo generado en Marbella tras conocerse la operación de Luxemburgo. Por si quedaba alguna duda sobre si la sociedad de la alcaldesa, ella o su marido tienen alguna cuenta bancaria en Luxemburgo Flores ha confirmado que “la tienen que tener, porque va asociada al producto que se ha contratado y allí se depositan los 3,1 millones de euros”. No obstante, ha concretado que “en torno al diez por ciento, unos 200.000 euros” del monto total, habrían sido entregados a los subscritores de la inversión. Basándose en la publicidad que ofertaba Nordea Bank SA, denunciada ante la Agencia Tributaria española, el abogado ha descrito el proceder de la sociedad de Muñoz: “Crasel Panorámica contrata ese producto para reducir el valor de la vivienda, y para invertir el capital en Luxemburgo, como el banco lo tiene previsto”. Según los folletos que Flores ha mostrado “todo se ofertaba para reducir el impuesto de sucesiones en España”, ha insistido. Así pues, una vez que la alcaldesa ha negado ser víctima del banco luxemburgués, al contrario que los clientes de Flores, el letrado ha dicho que no tiene “nada” de qué retractarse. Todo después de que la primera edil marbellí le instara a hacerlo a través de un requerimiento notarial. Muñoz emprendió dichas acciones a raíz de las declaraciones que el letrado hizo a eldiario.es el pasado 2 de marzo en las que destapó la operación financiera de Crasel Panorámica S.L. en el citado paraíso fiscal. Previamente, Flores había informado de ello en la página web de los afectados por prácticas irregulares de Nordea Bank, representados por su bufete. “No tengo por qué rectificar, cuando la propia alcaldesa declaró a eldiario.es que ella tiene un seguro de vida precisamente para poder hacer frente al impuesto de sucesiones”. De hecho, Muñoz insistió el pasado 2 de marzo, cuando este medio recabó su versión, en que “desgraciadamente, en Andalucía, mientras sigan gobernando los socialistas tendremos que tener un seguro de vida para hacer frente al impuesto de sucesiones”. Al ser preguntado por la denuncia que ha interpuesto la regidora contra él, ante el Colegio de Abogados de Málaga, Flores ha respondido que “es una manera sucia de empañar la imagen de un abogado”. Argumenta que Ángeles Muñoz no ha acudido a los tribunales “porque una querella causa revuelo y hay que sacar muchos papeles”. Además, ha animado a la también presidenta de la FAMP a dar explicaciones públicamente en lugar de denunciarle. <h3>Flores plantea dudas sobre el origen del patrimonio de la alcaldesa</h3> Antonio Flores, que ha calificado de “operación de ingeniería financiera” la actuación llevada a cabo por la sociedad de la alcaldesa en Luxemburgo, sostiene que la situación de la munícipe del PP “no es aceptable para un cargo público”. Sobre todo-ha añadido- “cuando su vivienda particular (la mansión) tiene por el sur un préstamo hipotecario con Luxemburgo y al norte una sociedad gibraltareña”, en alusión a  la offshore Crasel Limited, mercantil a la que el matrimonio compró los 90.000 euros del capital social que tenía en Crasel Panorámica S.L. Al hilo del argumento de la regidora sobre que ella tiene régimen de separación de bienes con su cónyuge, a Flores le sorprende que Ángeles Muñoz “tenga un patrimonio de cerca de 3,5 millones de euros, la mayoría del cual no está gravado con ninguna hipoteca, con los ingresos que ha podido declarar”. A Muñoz “no se le conoce una actividad profesional o mercantil para tener ese patrimonio tan abultado. Tiene un sueldo relativamente alto pero no puede cubrir ciertos desembolsos que ha hecho”, esgrime el responsable de Lawbird. En su declaración municipal de bienes, hecha en  junio de 2011, la regidora declaró 7.500 euros brutos mensuales como primera edil. Entre 2007 y 2011 cobró 55.742 euros brutos anuales como parlamentaria andaluza por Málaga. “Si ocurre como dice la alcaldesa, que recibe trasvases de patrimonio de su marido, ella ha tenido que declararlo en el impuesto de donaciones, puesto que ambos están vivos, la realidad es que no se ha hecho así”, denuncia Flores. Flores ha recordado, tal y como informó eldiario.es, que Muñoz adquirió la finca en la que se halla su mansión “a través de la compra venta de participaciones de una sociedad de Gibraltar”. En este punto sostiene lo siguiente: “sospechamos que se realizó por el valor del capital social, que fueron 90.000 euros”. Si las obras de la mansión se hicieron una vez comprado el terreno “el sueldo de la alcaldesa no daba como para poder cubrir un desembolso de cerca de 2 millones de euros”, ha concluido el letrado.
      • post_titleUn abogado atribuye a la alcaldesa de Marbella la compra de un producto destinado a evadir impuestos
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          • post_date2014-03-20 21:34:25
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          • post_titleAntonio-Lawbird-Marbella-Luxemburgo-JCV_EDIIMA20140320_0701_13
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      • post_date2014-03-20 21:31:33
      • post_date_gmt2014-03-20 20:31:33
      • post_content[caption id="" align="alignright" width="450"]<img src="http://www.marbella24horas.es/images/noticias/mini2-1395321184.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="332" /> El abogado Antonio Flores, esta mañana en rueda de prensa.[/caption] <strong>El abogado Antonio Flores, que destapó las operaciones en Luxemburgo de Ángeles Muñoz, ha puesto esta mañana a la alcaldesa de Marbella contra las cuerdas a nivel político. En una larga rueda de prensa ha dicho que la regidora "compró un producto para no pagar impuestos", que le podría suponer un ahorro del 34% en el impuesto de sucesiones. También la ha acusado de tener "incompleta" su declaración de bienes como cargo público y de "faltar a la verdad".</strong> <div>Antonio Flores Vila, del bufete Lawbird Legal Services SL de Marbella, fue quien destapó, a través de las investigaciones que realizaba para una asociación de afectados por Nordea Bank S.A., las operaciones de la alcaldesa de Marbella en Luxembugo, que salieron a la luz pública a través de “Eldiario.es”.</div> <div>Esta mañana, en una rueda de prensa de casi una hora, ha puesto contra las cuerdas a nivel político a la alcaldesa de Marbella. El letrado ha asegurado que Ángeles Muñoz “compró un producto para no pagar impuestos porque así lo refleja la publicidad de este banco”.</div> <div>“No la acusamos de defraudar al fisco, algo que no se haría hasta que hubiese un fallecimiento y la evasión de impuestos en grado de tentativa no es un delito”, dijo, y añadió que la parcela en la que debe ofrecer explicaciones es en la “política”.</div> <div>Flores sostiene que esta situación “no es aceptable para un cargo público”, sobre todo cuando su vivienda particular tiene “por el norte un préstamo hipotecario en un paraíso fiscal (Luxemburgo) y por el sur una sociedad gibraltareña, que es otro paraíso fiscal”.</div> <div>El abogado ha centrado su rueda de prensa en explicar tres aspectos fundamentales. Por un lado, el producto que ha adquirido la alcaldesa en Luxemburgo, por otro que su declaración de bienes está incompleta y “no refleja la realidad”, y como último en defenderse de la denuncia que ha hecho el Ayuntamiento ante el Colegio de Abogados.</div> <div>Respecto al primer asunto, ha considerado necesaria esta rueda de prensa para “desmentir” las afirmaciones de la alcaldesa sobre sus operaciones en Luxemburgo. “No son verdaderas, las explica de una forma sesgada y nadie termina de aclarar qué sucede”, ha dicho.</div> <div>Según ha explicado, Nordea Bank S.A. es una entidad de Luxemburgo, que tiene una oficina de representación en Marbella y que se dedica a la planificación fiscal internacional. “Su objetivo es ayudar a la gente, de forma más o menos legal, a que tenga que pagar menos impuestos”, ha dicho.</div> <div>“En España ofrecen un producto que, según dicen ellos en su publicidad, era para evitar legalmente el impuesto de sucesiones y de patrimonio, aunque esto no es cierto”, dijo.</div> <div>Explicó que su bufete había planteado un pleito contra esta entidad por “publicidad engañosa” porque induce a la gente a pensar que “puede defraudar al fisco”.</div> <div>Desde la asociación de afectados por Nordea Bank, según ha dicho, se solicitó a la Agencia Tributaria información sobre este producto y la respuesta fue que “utilizarlo para no pagar impuestos suponía una infracción tributaria”.</div> <div>Antonio Flores ha explicado en qué consiste el producto contratado por la alcaldesa en Luxemburgo, como han hecho otros clientes de este banco. Ha relatado que consta de tres elementos: “una vivienda en España sin cargas, una hipoteca que te da el banco y una póliza de seguros de vida que está asociada a una cartera de inversiones”.</div> <div>El letrado ha señalado que es “falso” que la póliza de seguros sea obligatoria porque hay una hipoteca, ya que existe “una prima única que se pagó al comienzo” y que en el caso de la regidora fue de 3,1 millones de euros. “Ese dinero, quizá un poco menos por los gastos, se queda en Luxemburgo”, sostuvo.</div> <div>Según sostuvo, el banco anuncia que este producto funciona por dos motivos. “Porque dicen que la casa ya no vale 4,7 millones porque tiene una carga de 3,1 millones, y que en Luxemburgo se puede heredar ese dinero sin pagar impuestos, pero ambas afirmaciones son falsas”.</div> <div>“Un préstamo hipotecario no sirve para reducir impuestos, si es para comprar la vivienda sí, pero no para sacar una hipoteca y guardarla en Luxemburgo y hablar de que tiene una carga”, explicó.</div> <div>Por tanto, el letrado considera que no debe hacer ninguna rectificación, como le ha solicitado la alcaldesa, y recordó que la propia regidora confirmó en “Eldiario.es” el motivo de su inversión cuando dijo, textualmente, que “yo tengo un seguro de vida precisamente para poder hacer frente al impuesto de sucesiones. Desgraciadamente en Andalucía mientras sigan gobernando los socialistas tendremos que tener un seguro de vida para hacer frente al impuesto de sucesiones".</div> <div>“Es un producto que la sociedad Crasel Panorámica, de la que la alcaldesa tiene el 50%, contrata para reducir el valor de la vivienda, invertir el capital en Luxemburgo y, según la publicidad, reducir el impuesto”, concluyó.</div> <div><strong>Declaración de bienes</strong></div> <div>En la segunda parte de su rueda de prensa, sostuvo que la declaración de bienes de la alcaldesa como cargo público está “incompleta” y añadió que “no es cierto que todo esté declarado en ella”.</div> <div>Flores señaló que, utilizando las notas simples de las viviendas que están a nombre de Ángeles Muñoz o de sociedades de las que es copropietaria, aparecen ocho fincas registrales, cuatro a su nombre y el resto al de las empresas en las que participa al 50%.</div> <div>En su declaración de bienes “no figura la póliza de seguros, ni el crédito hipotecario, y faltan algunos bienes como una vivienda en Monachil (Granada) y otra en La Quinta Hills”.</div> <div>Consideró que este documento, que se puede consultar en la web del Ayuntamiento, está “sesgado, no sé si de forma malintencionada, pero no es veraz”.</div> <div>“Esto es algo que tiene que divulgar ella, pero como considera que nosotros la injuriamos, hemos decidido relacionar lo que ella declara con la verdad”, dijo.</div> <div>“No somos políticos, ella decidirá si pone al día esta declaración o la completa”, señaló, y añadió que, además, es de “muy difícil interpretación”.</div> <div>“Pone que tiene participaciones por valor de 44.000 euros en una sociedad que tiene detrás una mansión de 4,7 millones, entonces se la compramos, no refleja la realidad”, sostuvo.</div> <div>Flores fue más allá y dijo que a la alcaldesa “no se le conoce una actividad mercantil", por lo que "llama la atención que tenga un patrimonio tan abultado”.Además, considera que, si lo relaciona con el de su marido, al existir separación de bienes, “si hubiese recibido trasvases del patrimonio de su cónyuge tendría que declararlo en el impuesto de donaciones, y no es así”. </div> <div>“Tiene un sueldo relativamente alto, pero no puede cubrir ciertos desembolsos que ha hecho, esto debería aclararlo, no es aceptable que diga que es su vida privada cuando además utiliza los servicios jurídicos del Ayuntamiento para denunciarnos”, dijo.</div> <div><strong>Denuncia Colegio de Abogados</strong></div> <div>Los servicios jurídicos del Ayuntamiento han denunciado a Antonio Flores ante el Colegio de Abogados de Málaga por "injurias o calumnias" sobre las inversiones de la alcaldesa en Luxemburgo. Flores considera que “hemos tropezado con este asunto, lo hemos remitido a un medio de comunicación y a partir de ahí ha surgido todo”.</div> <div>“El Colegio no tiene competencia contra nosotros porque es una cuestión entre dos partes privadas, la alcaldesa no es clienta y no tenemos relación jurídica, por tanto no hay contenido deontológico”, declaró.</div> <div>Preguntado sobre por qué la alcaldesa no ha acudido a los tribunales, ha dicho que una querella “causa revuelo y hay que sacar muchos papeles”, por lo que han optado por una “manera sucia de empañar la imagen de un abogado”.</div>
      • post_titleEl abogado que destapó las operaciones en Luxemburgo pone contra las cuerdas a la alcaldesa
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          • post_date2014-05-04 19:30:25
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      • ID1204
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      • post_date2014-03-20 13:30:04
      • post_date_gmt2014-03-20 12:30:04
      • post_content<p dir="ltr"><strong><img class="alignright" style="border: 0px; margin: 25px;" title="Mayor of Marbella sues top lawyer over alleged undeclared assets" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/munoz.jpg" alt="Mayor of Marbella sues top lawyer over alleged undeclared assets" width="333" height="222" align="right" border="0" />THE mayor of Marbella is suing a well known lawyer over claims that she improperly declared her investments abroad.</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Maria Angeles is suing <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, of <strong>Lawbird</strong>, after he spoke to the press regarding her alleged failure to declare that she and her expat husband Lars Broberg took out a €3.1 million equity release mortgage with Swiss bank Nordea in 2010.</p> <p dir="ltr">Muñoz has accused the brief of ‘professional misconduct’, claiming he was the main source in recent media reports concerning her allegedly undeclared assets.</p> <p dir="ltr">As well as investments in Luxembourg, Munoz and Swede Broberg allegedly bought a 98% share in Gibraltarian company Crasel Limited, in 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr">The town hall has reported the lawyer, who has a column with the Olive Press, to the Law Society, meaning the case will not go to court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spokesman for the town hall, Felix Romero claimed Flores ‘went against professional ethics by giving insulting statements to the press, and distributing them across the internet’.</p> <p dir="ltr">Flores insisted: “I have not been disrespectful towards her. I only said that she had either deliberately not declared her investments, or that she was a victim of the bank, like many others. I never made any indication which.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Concerns were first raised about Munoz’s foreign dealings by a group established by Antonio Flores, called the Equity Release Victims Association (ERVA), made up of expats who have lost millions of euros through the bank.</p> <p dir="ltr">The lawyer has filed a complaint with the Tax Office on behalf of ERVA’s members, affected by investments with Nordea Bank.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Flores will give a press conference on Thursday to discuss the allegations made against him.</p>
      • post_titleMayor of Marbella sues top lawyer over alleged undeclared assets
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      • post_namemayor-of-marbella-sues-top-lawyer-over-alleged-undeclared-assets
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:00
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          • post_date2014-05-04 19:32:00
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          • post_titleMayor of Marbella sues top lawyer over alleged undeclared assets
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      • post_date2014-03-04 14:48:08
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      • post_content<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1174" style="margin: 25px;" alt="Nordea-Bank-Entrada" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Nordea-Bank-Entrada.jpg" width="230" height="426" />Ciudadanos extranjeros se han agrupado en una plataforma para denunciar un producto financiero de planificación fiscal presuntamente fraudulenta que se está vendiendo en todo el país. Concretamente, sólo en el municipio de Marbella, hay entre 30 y 40 afectados con un capital invertido en este producto que ronda la cifra de los 44 millones de euros. Según explica el abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, que representa a los afectados por la gestión realizada por Nordea Bank, se trata de un producto que ofrece una "planificación fiscal fraudulenta. La entidad", continúa, "garantizaba, de manera legal, una forma de reducir el pago del impuesto de sucesiones sobre sus propiedades", según explica el letrado, quién señala que el banco ofrece a sus clientes la posibilidad de firmar un préstamo hipotecario sobre viviendas ya pagadas al objeto de reducir el valor del inmueble y por consiguiente la cantidad a pagar en concepto de impuesto de sucesiones por parte de sus herederos en el caso de que el titular fallezca. A pesar de lo abultada de la cifra de capital invertido, 44 millones, no son muchos los afectados en Marbella porque, según explica el abogado "en todos los casos se trata de hipotecas suscritas por cantidades muy elevadas". Una vez cerrado el préstamo en cuestión, según Flores, el dinero nunca ha llegado a estar en manos de los clientes, si no que era gestionado por el banco que invertía y negociaba con él garantizando a los propietarios de las viviendas sobre los que pesa el préstamo que el mismo se irá liquidando con cargo a los intereses generados por el dinero que la entidad tienen en su poder. "Lo que sucede", según explica Flores, "es que los bancos han invertido mal y han perdido el dinero, por lo que ahora piden a sus clientes que hagan frente a la hipoteca o de lo contrario podrían perder sus casas". Es decir, un producto que en principio no generaba ninguna deuda y cuyo objetivo era simplemente garantizar un beneficio para el cliente y una reducción fiscal, se ha vuelto ahora en contra de sus dueños que, a su vez, podrían llegar a estar incurriendo en un delito fiscal en el momento en el que tuvieran que pagar el impuesto de sucesiones ya que estarían evadiendo cantidades a la hacienda española. A esto se suma el hecho de que la mayoría de las personas que han suscrito este tipo de hipotecas "son ciudadanos extranjeros desconocedores de las leyes españolas y que por lo tanto se han fiado de un producto bancario que garantizaba una operación legal avalada por varias consultoras internacionales que, según las investigaciones realizadas, nunca dieron el visto bueno a este tipo de producto a pesar de la publicidad que el banco hizo del producto". Ahora los afectados luchan por conseguir la nulidad del contrato que firmaron en el momento en el que rubricaron la hipoteca al considerar que han sido engañados por un banco que les vendía como legal "un producto que fomenta un delito fiscal en España". De momento ya se han interpuesto varias denuncias por la vía penal por publicidad engañosa al entender que los clientes han sido víctimas "y no colaboradoras de un posible delito fiscal". La división de banca privada de Nordea Bank, a preguntas de este periódico, ha asegurado que la entidad "ha tenido buenas relaciones con sus clientes desde hace más de 30 años en España fuertemente opuestas a las alegaciones realizadas" a lo que han añadido que no tienen más comentarios que hacer ante las informaciones vertidas por parte de la representación legal de los denunciantes.
      • post_titleExtranjeros crean una plataforma y denuncian un producto financiero
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      • post_excerptEl presunto fraude afecta sólo en Marbella a entre 30 y 40 clientes de Nordean Bank por un valor de 44 millones
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          • post_date2014-03-04 14:47:51
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      • post_date2014-01-27 14:59:44
      • post_date_gmt2014-01-27 13:59:44
      • post_content<section><article itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Article"> <div id="v_article" itemprop="articleBody"> <div itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" alt="nigel goldman" src="http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1359505/nigel-goldman.jpg?w=450&h=326&l=52&t=57" width="450" height="326" /> <div>A British poker player who has previously been convicted for fraud has reportedly gone missing after being embroiled in a multi-million pound scam.</div> <div></div> </div> Nigel Goldman, 56, who is said to count Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher as his friends, is sought by lawyers following claims he scammed investors out of millions of pounds using a Ponzi scheme - where old investors embezzle money put in by new ones. Goldman, who boasts of having paid for the title 'Sir', has twice been convicted of fraud in the UK, which he then wrote about in his 2012 autobiography High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million. It is now claimed the businessman has gone missing from his mansion in Marbella amid claims that clients who invested in one of his schemes are out of pocket by at least €3.5m (£2.5m). <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, the lawyer representing Goldman's clients, told <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/highroller-on-the-costa-del-sol-nigel-goldman-disappears-with-investors-millions-9086466.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Independent</a>: "I think he's not done anything of what he said he would be doing - invest the money for people. "I think he's just had a classic vulgar Ponzi scheme, where he just dips in [to the money] whenever he feels like it and pays out clients who shout the loudest." Flores added he believes Goldman has "acted totally outside of any regulation". <div itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img class="aligncenter" itemprop="contentUrl" title="Goldman's fraud convictions were published in his book High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million in 2012" alt="nigel goldman" src="http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1359506/nigel-goldman.jpg?w=500&h=375&l=50&t=40" width="500" height="375" /></div> <div itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"></div> Flores said that the full amount of money Goldman owes could be far higher than the initial estimate, as he believes as many as 75% of his potential victims have yet to come forward. The lawyer added that police have not yet issued an arrest warrant for Goldman, but they are "not far from doing that". Goldman has denied any wrongdoing and claims this time he has been the victim of a scam, along with his clients. According to <a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/mystery-birmingham-poker-ace-centre-6593595" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Birmingham Mail</a>, before Goldman disappeared, he texted a friend with the message: "Things started to go wrong just over a year ago. It seems some of my brokers turned out to be running a Ponzi scheme with everyone's money. Since then I have been playing catch-up. "I did not set out to be a thief." Giles Brown, a journalist for ex-pat newspaper The Olive Press, said: "Nigel is a rogue. Shake his hand and you count your fingers afterwards – but he always kept good company, he knew his wine and cigars and was impeccably dressed. "Now he's vanished, leaving behind the furniture and three cats." According to a fellow poker player, who did not wish to be named, Goldman may be in Morocco as he had spoken to him while he was in the north African country in early January. "Unbeknown to me, he was on his toes," he said. <div></div> </div> </article></section>
      • post_titleConvicted Fraudster Nigel Goldman 'Missing' Amid Ponzi Scheme Claims
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:00
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      • post_date2014-01-27 14:54:31
      • post_date_gmt2014-01-27 13:54:31
      • post_content<img class="aligncenter" alt="" src="http://i3.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article6593653.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/cobn-6593653.jpg" width="615" height="409" /> A Birmingham poker ace, who ranks royal love rat James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher among friends, has vanished from his luxury Costa del Sol home amid a major cash probe. Broker “Sir” Nigel Goldman – he boasts of paying for the peerage – is being sought by Spanish police probing claims that people who entrusted him to invest their cash were left empty-handed and unable to access their funds. It is not the first time that the playboy, who lived in exclusive <a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/edgbaston">Petersham Place, Edgbaston,</a> before moving to Marbella, has been accused of dealing clients a duff hand. In his own book, titled ‘High Stakes: How I blew £14 million’ <a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/crime">he confesses to being banged up twice for fraud.</a> One review of the autobiography notes: “Goldman seems to show little remorse – and more than a little contempt – for the victims whose money he lived off so handsomely.” This time, however, Goldman claims he has been duped himself, along with those who are demanding answers. In a text message, he insisted: “Things started to go wrong just over a year ago. It seems some of my brokers turned out to be running a Ponzi scheme with everyone’s money. Since then I have been playing catch-up. “I did not set out to be a thief.” A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors from existing capital or new capital paid by new investors, rather than from profit earned by the individual or organisation running the operation. Goldman has admitted in writing to owing as much as €800,000 (£658,000) One former Birmingham business contact of the gambler, who dealt in gold and coins, said he was not surprised by the fresh controversy. “He can’t help himself,” shrugged the coins specialist. “He’s a very clever bloke. If he did the right things, he’d make a fortune.” Goldman, a feature at the world’s biggest poker tournaments, has not been seen for three weeks following complaints about his Tangier-based company, International Financial Investment. A lawyer acting for investors who say they have lost cash, has publicly stated that he is chasing £2.5 million, and that the sum is rising daily. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, of <strong>Lawbird</strong> solicitors, has placed advertisements in Spanish newspapers in an attempt to track down public school-educated Goldman, nicknamed “Naughty Nigel” by the Costa press. Yet Goldman, son of a Birmingham dentist, seemed to have turned over a new leaf after immersing himself in Marbella’s bustling social circuit just over ten years ago. His gleaming Mercedes and glamorous girlfriend, Suzanne Couling, were part and parcel of the VIP scene and were regularly spotted at Hewitt’s Polo House restaurant – THE place to be in Marbella,
      • post_titleMystery as Birmingham poker ace at centre of police probe vanishes
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      • post_excerptPlayboy pal of royal love rat James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher left Costa del Sol home and claims to be victim of scam
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      • post_date2014-01-27 14:52:38
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      • post_content<div> A high-rolling poker player and Costa del Sol society figure, said to be friends with Princess Diana’s former lover James Hewitt, has gone missing – leaving investors millions of pounds out of pocket. </div> <div> <div> Nigel Goldman was previously convicted for fraud and jailed in England, writing openly about his crimes in his autobiography, <em>High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million</em>, and then set himself up as an investment adviser near Marbella. But now the flamboyant businessman, who styled himself as a "Sir", cannot be found by his clients, more than a dozen of whom claim they are owed money after investing in one of his schemes. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, the lawyer representing Mr Goldman's clients, said complaints had been made to police in Spain and authorities in the UK. "I think he's not done anything of what he said he would be doing - invest the money for people," Mr Flores told <em>The Independent</em>, outlining the allegations. "I think he's just had a classic vulgar Ponzi scheme, where he just dips in [to the money] whenever he feels like it and pays out clients who shout the loudest." Mr Flores said Mr Goldman "acted totally outside of any regulation". The total amount of money involved could actually be far higher than first thought as typically in cases like this only 25 to 30 per cent of clients come forward, the lawyer said. He said one of Mr Goldman's clients was missing a "large amount of money". According to emails seen by <em>The Independent</em>, a client sent a message to Mr Goldman in November saying: "PLEASE DEPOSIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. The amount you are holding is £500k." A reply from an email address used by Mr Goldman said: "Just managed to pay in 425.00 for you - sorry that's all I can mange [sic] for now, it's a small start, but more importantly, a gesture of my good intentions for the future." Jon Clarke, of <em><a href="http://www.theolivepress.es/" target="_blank">The Olive Press</a></em>, the expat newspaper which broke the story, said he believed the total sum could run into "tens of millions". "I would say on the Costa del Sol, Costa del Crime, he was one of the most colourful characters, one of the best-known, and best-loved by some people, a regular at charity events," he said. "He was charming and definitely funny ... but I trusted him about as far as I could throw him." Mr Clarke said Mr Goldman was "very good friends" with Mr Hewitt and also claimed to know Sir Mark Thatcher, another leading light of the social scene. Mr Goldman did not respond to requests for comment on Facebook and to two email addresses he has used. But in a text message published by the Birmingham Mail, Mr Goldman appeared to claim that he himself was a victim of a scam. "It seems some of my brokers turned out to be running a Ponzi scheme with everyone's money... I did not set out to be a thief," he said. Michel Euesden, managing director of <em>Euro Weekly News</em>, where Mr Goldman once worked as a restaurant reviewer, said the businessman had persuaded people he had "gone straight" by saying he had "a pathological fear of returning to jail". "People have lost their life's savings," she wrote. "Here is my personal message to Sir [sic] Nigel... One day soon it will be the last drop of champagne you savour in a very long time." </div> </div>
      • post_titleHigh-roller on the Costa del Sol Nigel Goldman disappears ‘with investors’ millions’
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      • post_content<ul> <li><span>Nigel Goldman, 56, made fortune playing poker and twice jailed for fraud</span></li> <li><span>Left three cats in Marbella mansion when he left three weeks ago</span></li> <li><span>Lawyers across peninsula claim he has fled with more than €3million </span></li> <li><span>Former classmate of Topshop giant Philip Green said to be in Morocco</span></li> </ul>   <span>A British poker champion is being hunted by Spanish police after disappearing from his Costa del Sol mansion with more than £2.5million of investors' money.</span> <span>Nigel Goldman, 56, who counts James Hewitt and Sir Mark Thatcher among his close friends, was been twice-imprisoned for fraud before relocating to southern Spain. </span> <span>Now lawyers across the peninsula have launched appeals to reclaim at least €3million (£2.5million) - a figure rising every day. </span> <span>The only trace of Goldman since he vanished in Marbella - reportedly leaving three cats - has been a text message to a former employer three weeks ago which read: 'I did not set out to be a thief.'</span> <span>Friends claim he is now in Morocco. </span> <span>Spanish police started receiving complaints about his Tangiers-based company, International Financial Investment, three weeks ago.</span> <span>Goldman, a former classmate of retail giant Philip Green, has admitted in writing to owing </span><span>£658,000 (€800,000), however claims made to the Guardia Civil and UK fraud crime watchdog Action Fraud calculate the debt as more than triple. </span> <span>Goldman, who drives a red Ferrari and collects champagne, made his fortune at some of the world's biggest poker tournaments.</span> <div></div> <div> <h4>More...</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2515527/Fugitive-wanted-fraud-South-Africa-teacher-CORNWALL.html">Fugitive wanted for £1.5m fraud in South Africa is found working as a teacher in CORNWALL (after police were tipped off by a pupil)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530918/Migrants-charged-NHS-Foreigners-emergency-treatment-billed-clampdown-health-tourism.html">Migrants WILL be charged by A&E: Foreigners to be billed for emergency treatment in clampdown on health tourism (but they will still get free access to GPs)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2545643/Wed-die-rot-US-jail-say-British-couple-facing-extradition-1m-expenses-fiddle.html">We'd rather die than rot in a US jail, say British couple facing extradition for 'm expenses fiddle'</a></li> </ul> </div>   <span>He laid bare his history of dishonesty in a book of memoirs - High Stakes: How I Blew £14 million - published in 2012.</span> <span>A review of his book reads: 'Goldman seems to show little remorse - and more than a little contempt - for the victims whose money he lived off so handsomely.' </span> <span>Despite his past, Goldman believes he has been duped by other brokers were running a Ponzi scheme - where old investors embezzle money put in by new investors. </span> <div></div> <div> <div><img id="i-ad740e91" alt="Inquiries: Lawyers in three Spanish cities - Jaen, Almeira and Malaga - are chasing the ex-convict for £3million" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C5AA00000578-910_634x475.jpg" width="634" height="475" /> <div> <div></div> +9</div> </div> Inquiries: Lawyers in three Spanish cities - Jaen, Almeira and Malaga - are chasing the ex-convict for £3million </div>   <div></div> <div> <div><img id="i-ab300e7a" alt="Disappeared: He is said to have fled his Marbella mansion on January 3, leaving his three cats behind" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C59300000578-531_634x448.jpg" width="634" height="448" /> <div> <div></div> +9</div> </div> Disappeared: He is said to have fled his Marbella mansion on January 3, leaving his three cats behind </div>   <div></div> <div> <div><img id="i-ad0c0e8f" alt="The broker, who counts Mark Thatcher and James Hewitt as friends, lives in luxury and collects Champagne" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C59E00000578-308_634x467.jpg" width="634" height="467" /> <div> <div></div> +9</div> </div> The broker, who counts Mark Thatcher and James Hewitt as friends, lives in luxury and collects Champagne </div>   <span>According to the Birmingham Mail, he texted a friend to say: 'Things started to go wrong just over a year ago. </span> <span>'It seems some of my brokers turned out to be running a Ponzi scheme with everyone’s money. Since then I have been playing catch-up.'</span> <span>Giles Brown, a journalist for ex-pat newspaper The Olive Press in Spain said: 'Nigel is a rogue. </span> <span>'Shake your hand and you count your fingers afterwards - but he always kept good company, he knew his wine and cigars and was impeccably dressed.</span> <span>'Now he's vanished, leaving behind the furniture and three cats.'</span> <div></div> <div> <div> <div><img id="i-91740e15" alt="He claims his had been duped by investors running a Ponzi scheme" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C66B00000578-2_306x423.jpg" width="306" height="423" /> <div> <div></div> +9</div> </div> </div> <div> <div><img id="i-acf70e88" alt="Having been jailed twice for fraud, he laid bare his dishonesty in a 2012 book, High Stakes: How I Blew £14m" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C66F00000578-782_306x423.jpg" width="306" height="423" /> <div> <div></div> +9</div> </div> </div> <div></div> Goldman was jailed twice for fraud and laid bare his dishonesty in a 2012 book, High Stakes: How I Blew £14m </div>   <div></div> <div> <div><img id="i-aaae0e6e" alt="Denial: He has admitted to owing ¿800,000 but believes he has been duped by investors in a Ponzi scheme" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C61700000578-261_634x430.jpg" width="634" height="430" /> <div> <div></div> +9</div> </div> Denial: He has admitted to owing ¿800,000 but believes he has been duped by investors in a Ponzi scheme </div>   <span>Lawyer Antonio Flores, said: 'So far we have spoken to victims in Almeria, Malaga and Jaen.</span> <span id="ext-gen44">'In our most recent estimate it looks like reaching €3million.</span> <span>'It is large scale, Police have not yet issued an arrest warrant, but they are not far from doing that.' </span> <span>Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities, including bullion, stocks and shares, despite not qualifying as a regulated financial advisor due to his criminal convictions. </span> <span>Although police are currently scouring Spain for Goldman, a fellow poker player, who did not want to be named, claims he spoke to Goldman on January 3 who told him he was in Morocco.</span> <div></div> <div> <div><img id="i-aa5d0e71" alt="Goldman is believed to be in MOrocco although police are currently hunting the peninsula" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C61300000578-223_634x475.jpg" width="634" height="475" /> <div> <div></div> </div> </div> Goldman is believed to be in MOrocco although police are currently hunting the peninsula </div>   <div></div> <div> <div><img id="i-ac520e87" alt="Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities although he does not qualify as a regulated financial advisor due to his criminal convictions" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/26/article-2546283-1AF7C60F00000578-622_634x557.jpg" width="634" height="557" /> <div> <div></div> </div> </div> Goldman offered investments in a host of commodities although he does not qualify as a regulated financial advisor due to his criminal convictions </div> He said: 'He's in Morocco. Well, he was on January 3. <span>'I spoke to him. Unbeknown to me, he was on his toes.</span> <span>'I have known him for years. We have sat opposite each other at many a poker table. </span> <span>'He didn't have much to say, which is unlike him.' </span> <span>A spokesman for Auction Fraud confirmed complaints had been logged by the organisation about Goldman. </span> <span>If those complaints are upheld, information gathered will be passed to either the Metropolitan Police of Fraud Investigation Bureau.</span>
      • post_titleBritish playboy poker ace vanishes from Costa del Sol mansion after allegedly stealing £3m from 'Ponzi scheme' investors
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      • post_date2014-01-25 15:03:49
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      • post_content<em>He was one of Andalucia’s best known expats, a loveable rogue who was said to have mended his ways. But recent ventures have put paid to that, with clients of Nigel Goldman demanding to know where their money has gone. The Olive Press reveals how he went from boarding school rower to one of Europe’s leading fraudsters and how it has happened for a FIFTH time</em> EXCLUSIVE: By Jon Clarke and Giles Brown <strong>IT was characteristic of the larger-than-life fraudster Nigel Goldman that when <i>the Olive Press </i>recently reported how he was being sought in a three million euro financial scandal, that he ‘liked’ it on his Facebook page.</strong> The perennial joker, who regaled the coast with stories and jokes at fundraising galas, on radio shows and in his regular restaurant column in the <i>Euro Weekly News</i>, could never quite face up to the truth. Somehow he liked to believe that he was one of the chosen few, a friend to the stars, including Joan Collins, Anthony Worrall Thomson and James Hewitt. And that he was something of a celebrity himself. Driving a top-of-the-range Mercedes and living in a palatial home in Elviria, near Marbella, ‘Sir’ Nigel, as he insisted on being called, liked to give the impression of being a staunch pillar of the community. The truth however is rather different: For Goldman is a fraudster, who simply cannot help himself. Over nearly three decades the portly businessman has made and lost millions of his – and more crucially – other people’s money… and then made light of it. Indeed, in his bestselling autobiography <i>High Stakes,</i> he wrote of the loss of 14 million euros: “It was my clients’ money. But I wasn’t going to let that small detail worry me. I was out to enjoy myself”. The book, published in 2004, tells the story of his rollercoaster ride in which he conned hundreds of victims over 10 years and landed up in prison twice. More crucially it ends in Spain a decade ago, having fled the UK over a third scandal in which the ‘shit hit the fan’ and he ‘fuc**d the bank’ again. So, one might well ask why anyone would consider putting their money in the hands of such a shady advisor? A basic search of the internet throws up some eye-catching information on Goldman, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and attended a 30,000-euros-a-year school, known as the ‘Jewish Eton’ Carmel College. There are the eight entries on the <i>Rip Off Report </i>website alone, not to mention countless other pages, including one for another book by him on gambling scams. But the Costa del Sol is a long way away from Britain and, as many people say, people often ‘leave their brains at the airport’ when they arrive here. But the sad truth is he was built up by a succession of radio shows and his regular newspaper columns, that also included his ‘Guru’ articles in the magazine <i>Smart Gambler </i>plus a regular appearance in Talk Radio Europe’s <i>Viewpoint </i>programme along with his good friend Barry Nathan. It was with Nathan that he also became best known as the coast’s leading <i>bon viveur</i>. Accompanied by Nathan, Nigel indulged his taste for fine dining, styling himself as a Marbella Michael Winner for his regular column in the <i>Euro Weekly News,</i> a paper he tipped as the coast’s ‘key’ business. Described as the ‘gourmet dining correspondent’ he would review any restaurant that advertised and when not at work, would spend his time hanging out in James Hewitt’s seminal restaurant Polo House, boasting how the ex of Princess Diana was a ‘close chum’ of his. It certainly worked with the ladies. Rarely without a glass of champagne in his hand and a floozy on his arm (his Facebook page is literally littered with photographs of a string of louche looking women) he was seen as the archetypal playboy. And he wasn’t scared to travel to see ‘his girlfriends’, dating a Scottish food blogger Annie Manson, better known as Annie B, from Vejer de la Frontera, as well as more recently the glamorous Suzanne Couling, from Berkshire. Somewhere in the ether, he had mysteriously ‘acquired’ a knighthood and insisted that the prefix ‘Sir’ went before his name. He boasted how it got him upgraded on flights and he even had it etched on his credit cards and his bank statements. After winning a trading competition on Talk Radio Europe’s previous guise REM, in which he turned 100,000 euros into 2.7million, he pretty much had it made. The die had been cast. In the words of one leading media owner, Goldman had ‘been given a second chance, and somehow we all fell for it’. He started by offering his services as a financial advisor and trader, via a string of companies including Petersham coins and stamps, Harvard Private Client and, most recently, International Financial Investments (whose acronym ironically spells ‘IFI’). Promising guaranteed returns of over 10% on investments, he backed it up by insisting he had millions invested in the gold and coin market, as well as numerous property schemes in Spain and Morocco. Unsuspecting clients were quickly bowled over and sent money to a string of accounts in Spain, Germany, the UK, the Isle of Man and even Tangiers, and were assured by the smooth-talking Goldman that they were investing wisely. As had been his modus operandi in the UK, he snared his clients via costly advertising and trade shows, where, as he wrote in his book, you found investors with ‘defenselessness, greed and gullibility’. His main thrust for business in Spain appears to have been via his radio show on Spectrum FM giving financial advice, market news and share tips in a five minute slot each day, plus an extended 30 minute show on Friday. He would then meet clients at a number of upmarket hotels around the region to ‘help them’ invest their money. One couple based in Mojacar, in Almeria, told<i> the Olive Press </i>this week how they met him with his girlfriend Suzanne at the five star Parador after his regular show, which was recorded in the nearby Spectrum FM studio. Immediately offered a ‘glass of something’ they were schmoozed in the classic way of a fraudster and promised an amazing ‘minimum’ monthly return of 11% on their investment. “We met him a few times before investing and really thought he was kosher,” explained the retired purchasing manager, 63, from Accrington, who has asked to remain anonymous for legal reasons. “He was sold as this seriously knowledgeable moneyman on Spectrum FM and he would roll up in his black Mercedes and always had a nice room at the hotel.” <blockquote>He would brag about his money and last time we saw him boasted about having recently bought 12 beachfront apartments in Tangier.</blockquote> He continues: “He would brag about his money and last time we saw him boasted about having recently bought 12 beachfront apartments in Tangier. He said he was hoping to make loads of money from them. I think he was planning to move there.” The end result of a couple of meetings and a meal out with the victims was a number of transfers between 2011 and 2013 that amounted to 146,000 pounds. In return they received a ‘guaranteed income bond’, which paid back 11% a month and always did, with often a bit more, until last year. “We invested into a range of his products, including his ‘Fantasy Portfolio’, which is precious metals, I think, and more recently IFI,” added the expat, who has now reported his dealings to the police. Things seemed to be fine until in October their monthly payment did not arrive. “When we contacted him he said something about an embargo over a tax bill from 2008 and all his assets had been frozen. We have heard nothing since and are very worried about our investment.” Another victim Geoffrey Whitton, 48, based in Madrid, believes that Goldman had been planning his departure from Spain for some months and knew the ‘gravy train was coming to an end’. The writer, who invested 20,000 euros with Goldman, smelt a rat and came down to Marbella last summer to confront him. But, while he wanted to know what had happened with his money Goldman was more interested in ‘loading’ his investment and getting more from the former chef, from Cornwall. “He said he was going away in mid October and that he would be rid of me then. I didn’t really know what he meant. I do now,” said Whitton, who has cooked at Kensington Palace. Curiously when <i>the Olive Press</i> had probed Goldman on the subject in November, he had insisted via email that Whitton was ‘unreliable’ and had been making up claims of sex abuse about him. “He has made false allegations against me of being involved in a child abuse ring in Morocco,” he said. “I believe he is of the opinion that I have ‘done a runner’ with his funds. This is plainly untrue, and I would urge you to be very careful of this individual.” Another client, a publisher based in America, believes that the wheels started to come off when Goldman started to invest his clients’ money into a Ponzi scheme run by a now disgraced firm MMS. First investing with him in 2008, the businessman has stayed in close contact with Goldman, and by his own admittance has made a ‘healthy profit’ from him. He said: “Goldman introduced me to a company called MMS (Montague Morgan Slade) which I know handled large sums of his clients’ funds. “I would suspect this is where the problem lies, as this firm received a lot of bad publicity recently for running a Ponzi scheme, and one of the directors ended up in prison. I believe a lot of Goldman’s clients funds ended up in this scheme.” He added: “I made a healthy profit from his trading and I am scared that I may be asked to repay my profits to make good the losses suffered by others, as is what happened in the Madoff case.” Lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> from <strong>Lawbird</strong>, in Marbella, who is representing a number of the victims, fears that the scandal has all the hallmarks of a Ponzi-type scheme and so far all that is known is the ‘tip of the iceberg’. He said last night: “We believe the fraud is already well over three million euros. We have so far spoken to 10 victims and we know of another who gave him 850,000 euros alone. “He was very good and his schemes were not just reserved for the British expats. One German expat walked in here the other day having invested 50,000 with him.” So where is Nigel now? <img alt="EMPTY: Goldman's four bedroom Elviria home" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/nigel-goldman-house-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /> EMPTY: Goldman’s four bedroom Elviria home When <i>the Olive Press</i> visited his four bedroom Elviria home this week, he had clearly moved out. While the letterbox still bore his name, neighbours insisted that he has not been seen for months and he had ‘fled’ even leaving three of his cats. “The police were around one day asking questions and the next day he had literally gone,” revealed expat Jennifer Cook. “There was always a string of people coming in and out and Nigel gave the impression he was a fixer. He could sort anything out.” It seems he is currently dividing his time between the UK and Morocco, where he has invested millions in real estate deals. According to one <i>Olive Press</i> reader, who bumped into him in at hotel lobby in Fez, last week, he was ‘very unhappy’ to be recognised. “He has grown a moustache and lost five kilos” he said. “And when he realised that he had been recognised, he fled”. The case is being partly handled by the Guardia Civil in Mojacar and by the National Police in Marbella. While they are being tight-lipped about the case at present, lawyer Flores believes that an arrest warrant will be issued within weeks. “And then the heat will really be on,” he said. It seems that although everyone may well deserve a second chance, Goldman has more than blown his and, with the authorities now actively looking for him, his champagne lifestyle may once again be over.
      • post_titleAll that glitters is not Nigel Goldman as seasoned British fraudster vanishes over millions of missing money in Spain
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      • post_date2014-01-21 15:10:43
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      • post_contentAN expatriate who lost €1million to a ‘thieving bank’ has taken it to court. Euan Armstrong, 75, says he has lost his life savings after being sold an ‘illegal’ equity release scheme that was supposed to protect his estate from inheritance tax. Danske bank ‘mortgaged his house’ then invested the cash in its own financial products. Not only did Danske not deliver on the promised €35,000 of annual investment income but they then began charging him tens of thousands in commissions and ‘charges’ - €18,000 the first year, even more the next, up to an average of €55,000 per year - before  trying to re-possess his home near Coin. That has left Euan, and he says, hundreds of others out of pocket to the tune of possibly hundreds of million of euros. Armstrong told EuroWeekly that “my €1 million investment was spiraling downward to where by 2010, I’d lost €850,000 of it,” with Danske after him to pay what they had lost. Left destitute, he says, “I had to put my own house up for rental in order to live and eat.” He has since been forced out of retirement and back to work as a yacht captain. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="425"]<img alt="" src="https://www.euroweeklynews.com/media/k2/items/cache/4b8149e49556aee0792f1cbabb1fa58e_XL.jpg" width="425" height="250" /> NOT GIVING UP: Euan Armstrong says he is one of hundreds[/caption] Giving up the fight against Danske is impossible for Armstrong because, according to him, “I’m only one of hundreds.” In response, he linked up with fellow ‘equity release’ fraud victim Ian Sherdley to form the Equity Release Victims Association (ERVA, <a title="ERVA" href="http://www.erva.es">www.erva.es</a>) which empowers similar victims to speak out with ERVA’s support. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> of <strong>Lawbird Legal Services</strong> confirms that 500-600 people have fallen prey to illegal mortgages schemes totaling €175 million along the Costa. Armstrong accuses multiple banks—“They’re all doing it,” he says—of targeting the elderly, retired demographic, those without mortgages, so as “to get their money off them.” In the meantime, Armstrong claims innocent people are dying from corollary effects like alcoholism. He says the stress has brought on an irregular heart beat while his brother John has since passed away. “The banks are waiting for people to die,” he states, explaining that if banks wait it out long enough, they win. Law firms fighting these cases have made little progress because the banks “just don’t answer.” Armstrong sentiments were unequivocal: “They’re thieving, robbing *****.” Armed with 1,030 pages of evidence on Armstrong’s case, a Malaga court has overturned a previous Danske appeal by declaring the case is indeed criminal, not merely civil. Now Henrik Hjerrild and Morten Runo, two top executives from Danske Bank International S.A.’s Luxembourg office, have been summoned by a Fuengirola court for suspected criminal financial dealings. What is next for Armstrong? “Wait and hope the bank will cancel the mortgage. Then I’ll sue for damages. The situation has brought financial ruin.”
      • post_titleDay in court for expat who lost €1m to 'thieving' bank
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      • post_date2014-01-10 15:07:12
      • post_date_gmt2014-01-10 14:07:12
      • post_contentDanske Bank har angiveligt rådgivet kunder til at spare i skat ved at optage gæld i deres spanske hus. På den måde kunne de bl.a. undgå at betale arveafgifter. Pengene skulle bruges til at investere via Danske Banks bankselskab i Luxembourg, men i dag er store dele af kundernes formuer tabt, og derfor skal to af Danske Banks folk nu forklare sig i retten. Beskyldningerne går på, at banken i processen både har vildledt kunderne og begået bedrageri. Sådan lyder det fra advokat <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> fra <strong>Lawbird Legal Services</strong> – et advokatkontor i Malaga, som fører en sag mod Danske Bank på vegne af nogle briter. Hans mål er at få banken til at betale erstatning til kunderne. Det skal tilføjes, at han er aflønnet efter en no cure, no pay-ordning, så han får en procentdel af erstatningerne, hvis han vinder sagerne. Han har ført kamp med flere andre danske banker, der har ligget i lignende opgør om salg af investeringsprodukter baseret på lån i fast ejendom via Luxembourg eller andre lande, der havde status af skattely. »Nu har retten bestemt sig for at kalde de her Danske Bank-personer til Spanien for at blive afhørt. Sagen skal klarlægge, om der skal rejses en kriminalsag. Dokumenterne er allerede godkendt. De viser, at Danske Bank begik vildledende markedsføring og bedrageri,« lyder det fra Antonio Flores, som oplyser, at det er rådgiverne Morten Runo Waaben og Henrik Hjerrild Hansen fra Danske Bank Luxembourg, der skal forklare Danske Banks sag i retten. Det skal dog ikke forveksles med, at de er sigtede i sagen. Et centralt dokument i sagen er såkaldt fact sheet fra 2003 fra Danske Bank. Her redegør banken for de fordele, der er ved et såkaldt Capital Assurance-produkt. Der nævnes fem forskellige punkter, hvorved udenlandske kunder bosat i Spanien opnår en skattefordel ved at gå ind i Danske Banks model. »Disse dokumenter om skattefordele var ikke sande, de var løgn. Men man kan ikke afvise, at Danske Bank har misforstået disse produkter, men det er fuldstændig klart, at man ikke må bruge dette produkt til at omgå skat, det er ulovligt,« siger advokaten. <h2>KPMG afviser godkendelse</h2> For at gøre sagen endnu mere pikant oplyses det i dokumentet fra Danske Bank, at »The tax benefits of the Capital Assurance have been approved by KPMG«, men nu oplyser Antonio Flores, at han er i besiddelse af et brev fra KPMG, hvori de afviser at have godkendt modellen: »Skattekontoret siger, at det er ulovligt, og KPMG siger, at de aldrig har godkendt produktet.« I den konkrete sag oplyser advokaten, at et britisk ægtepar har belånt deres ejendom med en mio. euro. De penge har Danske Bank så investeret, men det er gået skidt efter krisen, og der er nu kun 300.000 euro tilbage. Selv om Antonio Flores allerede har tabt sagen ved en civil ret, er målet fortsat, at kunderne skal stilles, som om de aldrig er indgået i aftalen. Det kan angiveligt blive en dyr omgang for banken, for Antonio Flores påstår, at 100 spanske kunder er i en lignende situation i Danske Bank. Det antal afviser direktør for Danske Bank-koncernens private banking-område, Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, dog: »Jeg kan ikke forholde mig til det tal, jeg ved simpelthen ikke, hvad han taler om.« <em>Hvor mange er der så?</em> »Det er ret få. Men jeg ved ikke, hvor han har det tal fra. Det er far out. Det er en ti år gammel sag, som tidligere er tabt i en civil ret. Nogle forsøger at slippe for at betale et lån, fordi de er kommet i klemme. De gør alt, hvad de kan. Jeg synes, at det er tankevækkende, at han kører det her i pressen og ikke i retten.«<em>Men kan du bekræfte, at der er kunder, som har tabt penge på at investere i Luxembourg? </em> »Hvis man under krisen tog et lån og investerede, så gav det tab for mange mennesker. Sådan er det jo. Meget af det er kommet tilbage, men det kan man ikke forhindre.«<em>Hvordan forholder du dig til påstanden om, at I har vildledt kunderne og begået bedrageri? </em> »Jeg er da irriteret over det. Men sådan er det at drive virksomhed. Det kan man ikke undgå at løbe ind i.« <em>Vil du afvise, at det har noget på sig?</em>»Jeg vil afvise fuldstændig, at der er noget som helst på den sag,« <em>I materialet står der, at der er fordele rent skattemæssigt? </em>»Det er for mig at se bare almindelig information om, hvordan sådan noget fungerer.« <em>Men er det ikke en god forretning for banken. Man har lånt en masse penge ud og investeret dem samtidig med?</em> »Bankvæsen handler jo om at foretage investeringer og yde lån og modtage indlån og betalingsformidling. Det har været en fornuftig forretning, men ikke mere fornuftig end alt muligt andet.«   ------   Danish Bank has allegedly advised clients to save tax by raising debt in their Spanish house . That way they could include avoid paying inheritance taxes. The money was used to invest via Danish Bank banking company in Luxembourg, but today much of customers' fortunes lost and therefore two of the Danish Bank people now explain himself in court. The accusation is that the bank in the process both misled customers and committed fraud. So says lawyer Antonio Flores from Lawbird Legal Services - a law firm in Malaga, leading a case against the Danish Bank on behalf of some Britons. His goal is to get the bank to pay compensation to customers. It should be added that he was paid at a no cure, no pay scheme , so he gets a percentage of the damages if he wins the cases. He led fight with several other Danish banks that have been in similar showdown on the sale of investment products based on mortgages via Luxembourg or other countries that had the status of tax havens. "Now the court has decided to call these Danish Bank persons to Spain for questioning . The case must clarify whether to bring a criminal . The documents have already been approved. They show that the Danish Bank committed deceptive marketing and fraud , " says Antonio Flores, who says that it is the advisors Morten Runo Waaben and Henrik Hjerrild Hansen from the Danish Bank Luxembourg to explain Danish Bank case in court . It should not be confused with the fact that they are suspects in the case. A key document in this case is called a fact sheet from 2003 from the Danish Bank . This explains the bank for the benefits of a so-called Capital Assurance product. There are five different points , whereby foreign customers residing in Spain achieve a tax advantage by going into the Danish Bank model. "These documents about the tax benefits were not true , they were lying. But one can not deny that the Danish Bank 've got these products, but it is quite clear that one should not use this product to evade taxes , it is illegal , "said the lawyer. KPMG denies approval To make matters even more piquant is stated in the document of the Danish Bank that " The tax benefits of the Capital Assurance havebeen godkendt by KPMG ," but now says Antonio Flores that he is in possession of a letter from KPMG in which the denies having authorized the model: " The tax office says it is illegal, and KPMG say they never approved the product . " In this particular case, the lawyer says that a British couple have mortgaged their property with a million . euro . The money has Danish Bank so invested , but it has gone bad after the crisis, and there are now only 300,000 euros return. Although Antonio Flores already has been unsuccessful in the civil courts , the goal remains that customers must be treated as if they never entered into the Agreement. It can supposedly be an expensive place for the bank, Antonio Flores claims that 100 Spanish customers are in a similar situation in the Danish Bank . The number of rejects director of the Danish Bank Group's private banking division , Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, however : "I can not relate to the numbers I simply do not know what he's talking about . " How many are there ? "It is quite a few . But I do not know where he got that number from . It's far out . It is a ten year old case that was lost in a civilian court . Some try to avoid paying a loan because they get caught. They are doing everything they can. I think it is significant that he runs it here in the press and not the right . "But can you confirm that there are customers who have lost money investing in Luxembourg? " If the crisis took a loan and invested , so gave it a loss for many people. How it is. Much of it has come back , but it can not prevent. " How do you relate to the allegation that I have misled customers and committed fraud? "I'm as annoyed by it. But this is to run a business . You can not avoid running into the " Do you deny that it has something to do? 'I reject completely that there is anything on the matter ," the material says that there are benefits for tax purposes ? "It is for me to see just general information about how something works. " But it is not good business for the bank. It has borrowed a lot of money and invested them at the same time ? " Banking is all about making investments and providing loans and receive deposits and payments . It has been a sound business , but no more sensible than anything else. "
      • post_titleDanske Bank under lup i sag om skatteunddragelse / Danish Bank under the microscope in the case of tax evasion
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      • post_date2014-01-09 15:50:24
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      • post_contentEl Juzgado de Instrucción número 1 de Fuengirola, que instruye el caso de un británico a quien se le vendió una hipoteca inversa extranjera, ha citado a declarar como imputados por un delito de "estafa y publicidad engañosa" a dos directivos del mayor banco de Dinamarca, el "Danske Bank". Según la providencia del Juzgado, los dos directivos, que actualmente trabajan en la sucursal luxemburguesa del banco, deberán presentarse el próximo 23 de enero para ser interrogados por el juez, según informa a través de un comunicado la defensa del afectado, el despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>. Además, el juzgado llamará a comparecer el mismo día a los representantes legales de "Danske Bank International S.A" como responsable civil directo, al no existir en la fecha de los hechos un "supuesto de responsabilidad penal para personas jurídicas". Según la querella presentada por el afectado en 2011, "Danske Bank" le convenció para que hipotecase su vivienda de retiro en Alhaurín el Grande (Málaga) en garantía de un préstamo, el cual, sin que pasara por España, "se invertía en operaciones de especulación financiera en Luxemburgo". El producto financiero, denominado "Capital Assurance", prometía ventajas fiscales ajustadas a la legislación española en relación con los impuestos de patrimonio y sucesiones, al "reducir mediante el artificio de trabar hipoteca la base imponible de la vivienda", que posteriormente se declaraba al fisco. Según el gabinete de abogados, "Danske Bank" llegó incluso a "falsear" el contenido de un informe emitido por la consultora mundial KPMG sobre la fiscalidad del producto, al "interpretar torticeramente las conclusiones" del mismo. La nota indica que KPMG ha considerado como "falsa" la afirmación que "Danske Bank" hacía en su folleto publicitario de que los beneficios fiscales del producto "Capital Assurance" han sido aprobados por la consultora, la cual requirió la eliminación del folleto publicitario de toda referencia a cualquier aprobación dada por KPMG. El texto indica que recientemente Hacienda dictaminó que las hipotecas inversas extranjeras "no sirven para desgravar impuestos en España" a quienes poseen inmuebles en nuestro país, constituyendo "infracción tributaria sancionable" el hacerlo, incluso por vía penal, para el caso de que el montante defraudado supere los 120.000 euros. En la misma causa penal está imputado el anterior presidente de "Danske Bank", como máximo responsable de la entidad danesa, que se cree que "ha podido colocar en España un centenar de estos productos". EFECOM <strong>Related</strong> <ul> <li>Diario Sur - <a href="http://www.diariosur.es/agencias/20140108/local/malaga/juzgado-cita-como-imputados-directivos_201401081641.html">Juzgado cita como imputados a 2 directivos de banco danés por presunta estafa</a></li> </ul>
      • post_titleDos directivos de un banco danés citados como imputados en Fuengirola
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      • post_content<img style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px;" title="Simulación de la torre que planea Sierra Blanca Properties en Marbella." alt="" src="http://ep01.epimg.net/politica/imagenes/2013/12/28/actualidad/1388254992_414238_1388255515_noticia_normal.jpg" width="560" height="350" /> Simulación de la torre que planea Sierra Blanca Properties en Marbella. Marbella no quiere ser Benidorm. Ni Singapur, Hong Kong o Dubai. La ciudad, símbolo durante años de la corrupción y el urbanismo destripaterrones, se ha levantado contra el plan que el Ayuntamiento, del PP, aprobó el pasado 22 de noviembre y que autoriza <a href="http://politica.elpais.com/ccaa/2013/12/09/andalucia/1386597494_360599.html#sumario_1">la construcción de cinco rascacielos de hasta 50 plantas</a> cada uno. La alcaldesa, Ángeles Muñoz, ha anunciado que renuncia a la idea, pero el caso deja muchas lecturas: se reactiva la construcción en la costa más exclusiva y, contra pronóstico, en Marbella ha surgido un movimiento contra ella. Pedro Rodríguez, presidente de la promotora Sierra Blanca Properties, no entiende por qué su plan para levantar una torre de 30 plantas en Marbella ha sublevado a buena parte de la ciudad. “Marbella tiene que competir en el mundo, con Dubai, Miami o Singapur, y este proyecto mete a la ciudad en el siglo XXI”, explica en su despacho. <div id="sumario_2|html"> <a name="sumario_2"></a>El pleno aprobó en noviembre permitir la construcción de torres en cinco zonas </div> La oficina está a las afueras de Marbella, en la llamada milla de oro, junto a un centro comercial en cuyo aparcamiento abundan todoterrenos y coches de alta gama. Alrededor hay villas bajas pintadas en tonos ocre, piscinas, vallas altas, césped y palmeras. En la cafetería atienden en inglés. Podría ser Miami o California. Rodríguez explica en su mesa llena de papeles cómo ve el futuro de la construcción en Marbella. “No tiene sentido construir si no haces algo excepcional. El producto de precio medio está en los bancos y en la Sareb [el banco malo] a precio muy bajo, así que hay que ir a por lo exclusivo”. Él, que ha capeado la crisis construyendo y vendiendo villas de lujo para extranjeros, creía poder dar el salto definitivo. Presentó al Ayuntamiento una torre de 30 plantas y 115 metros de altura. Su intención era vender 114 apartamentos de lujo de más de 300 metros cuadrados por, como mínimo, un millón y medio de euros cada uno. <div id="sumario_6|foto"> <a name="sumario_6"></a> <div> <div> <img class="alignright" style="margin: 15px;" alt="" src="http://ep01.epimg.net/politica/imagenes/2013/12/28/actualidad/1388254992_414238_1388255562_sumario_normal.jpg" width="300" height="356" />La torre tendría 30 plantas y 114 apartamentos de lujo. </div> </div> </div> La idea de Rodríguez, pulcro afeitado, jersey de pico sin corbata y pelo repeinado, nace en Nueva York. Allí vivió durante años hasta que a mitad de los ochenta volvió a España. Explica que un chalé con piscina es caro de mantener y engorroso para quien solo pretende usarlo por temporadas. Una torre de lujo, sostiene, elimina esos inconvenientes. Y tiene una gran ventaja: tiene vistas al mar, algo que en Marbella empieza a escasear y que demandan los extranjeros, entre los que destacan los rusos. El promotor insiste en que la financiación no es problema y que podría vender los pisos antes de poner un ladrillo. Podría sonar a baladronada, a otro castillo en el aire, pero en la ciudad todo el mundo le toma en serio. Rodríguez ha sido presidente de los empresarios de Marbella y no suele ir de farol. Nacido en Calzada de Calatrava (Ciudad Real) en 1947, tiene una biografía meritoria. Con nueve años comienza a trabajar en el campo y ayudando en la carnicería a su padre. De chaval se va a estudiar a Madrid, donde demuestra facilidad para los idiomas. Con distintos empleos se paga los estudios y aprende inglés y francés. Es el <em>boom</em> del turismo y Rodríguez entra en una agencia de viajes y después en una aerolínea. <div id="sumario_3|html"> <a name="sumario_3"></a>Algunos promotores locales se opusieron al proyecto: “Rompen el paisaje” </div> Va a Nueva York y monta una agencia de viajes mayorista a España: Hispanidad Travel. Hace fortuna y abre oficinas en México, Miami y Madrid. “En 1985, cuando España entraba en la UE leí un libro llamado<em>Megatrends</em> en el que explicaba que del norte de EE UU se estaba produciendo una migración hacia el sur, al cinturón del sol, porque las empresas ahorraban costes y la calidad de vida era mejor. Pensé que algo similar ocurriría en Europa y vine a Marbella”. La torre, que asegura que tendría la firma de Ricardo Bofill, culminaría esa historia de hombre hecho a sí mismo. El 22 de noviembre el pleno municipal de Marbella sacó adelante, con la mayoría absoluta del PP, una “modificación puntual de elementos del Plan General de Ordenación Urbanística”, aprobado tres años antes para enterrar definitivamente el gilismo. <div id="sumario_4|html"> <a name="sumario_4"></a>Una promotora proyectó levantar 30 plantas “con vistas al mar” </div> La aprobación inicial daba un mes de plazo para alegaciones. Nada más conocer el edicto, Carola Herrero fue una de las personas que se levantó contra los rascacielos. Esta arquitecta coordina la plataforma contra las torres. Es simbólico que no son los ecologistas los que más se han movido, sino urbanistas y promotores. En la cafetería de un hotel de Marbella, los coordinadores de la plataforma relatan sus pegas. Allí está Rafael de la Fuente, un hombre afable de 72 años que fue concejal del PP en Marbella y exdirector de los hoteles de lujo de Monteros y Don Carlos, en Marbella, y Villamagna, en Madrid, entre otros. “Las alturas son muy peligrosas. De joven vi cómo las torres arruinaron Torremolinos. Era el primer destino turístico de España y en seis años lo destrozaron. La gente que viene del norte de Europa no quiere eso. Marbella es único y no podemos destrozarlo”. <div id="sumario_1|despiece"> <a name="sumario_1"></a> <div> <h2>“Mejora el bienestar de la población”</h2> El pleno municipal de Marbella aprobó el pasado 22 de noviembre “una nueva tipología edificatoria singular en altura” y al ser una modificación puntual en principio no precisa el visto bueno de la Junta de Andalucía, del PSOE e IU. El acuerdo define que los rascacielos podrán ir en cinco zonas de la ciudad, entre ellas la conocida como “la gitana”, la que tiene la categoría urbanística más avanzada y que es donde Pedro Rodríguez ha presentado su proyecto. El documento que sustenta el edicto explica que los rascacielos “conllevan unas mejoras para el bienestar de la población por llevar implícita una revitalización de las áreas urbanas donde se implanten” </div> </div> A su lado está el promotor Juan de Orbaneja: “Por muy bonita que pongas una torre rompe el paisaje y conlleva un efecto dominó: luego vendrán más y no podremos pararlas”. No es que en Marbella no haya edificios, pero es verdad que conserva un perfil relativamente homogéneo. “Ni Gil se atrevió a plantear rascacielos. El mayor lo hizo el marqués de Villaverde y tiene 20 plantas. Cuando Franco lo vio le preguntó que qué era eso. Le dijo que era la primera de un complejo y que al lado irían nueve más. Franco lo paró”, apostilla Carola Herrero. El impulsor de la torre cree que las críticas al estilo son inventos. “¿Cuál es el estilo arquitectónico de la ciudad o arquitectura marbellí? En Marbella existen varios estilos, desde el centro árabe, edificios del desarrollismo o urbanizaciones anglosajonas. Incluso hay al menos cuatro torres”. Añade que el PGOU en vigor contempla la construcción de varias torres más y el proyecto del puerto que anunció el jeque Al Thani incluye rascacielos. ¿Qué habría pasado si Gil hubiera propuesto estos rascacielos? Los opositores creen que la ciudad se habría levantado, pero hay motivos para dudarlo.<strong> Antonio Flores,</strong> un abogado especializado en clientes extranjeros, opina que la Operación Malaya ha vacunado a la población: “La gente aquí ya no ve a los promotores como gente que busque el bien común. Ahora recela de los grandes planes urbanísticos”. Ni las promesas de empleo han evitado una dura campaña en la prensa contra el proyecto. <div id="sumario_5|html"> <a name="sumario_5"></a>“La gente de aquí recela de los planes urbanísticos”, dice un abogado </div> Tanto, que el Ayuntamiento ha plegado velas. Desde el consistorio se insiste en que solo fue una idea y que como no hay consenso no se hará. “Ha habido demagogia y poca información”, y añaden que la intención del equipo de Gobierno era “generar riqueza y empleo con garantías y sin incrementar el volumen”. Aun así, el Ayuntamiento no ha aclarado si va a revocar el acuerdo del pleno o si el parón es solo de palabra. Temiendo esto segundo, la plataforma sigue activa y recabando apoyos contra el plan. De la Fuente destaca la imagen que puede sacar Marbella de esto tras las mayorías absolutas que concedió al gilismo una y otra vez: “Quizá así mostremos que no somos un pueblo de descerebrados y maleantes”.
      • post_titleMarbella no quiere ser Benidorm
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:00:10
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          • post_titleSimulación de la torre que planea Sierra Blanca Properties en Marbella.
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      • post_date2013-09-25 15:55:44
      • post_date_gmt2013-09-25 14:55:44
      • post_contentLAWYERS in Europe have revealed a second complaint has been lodged in a case concerning an alleged multi-million pound overseas scam involving an East Staffordshire businessman. It has emerged that more than 30 people from Britain and Ireland have now lodged a collective action in Madrid after losing hundreds of thousands of pounds to Ocean View Properties (OVP), a firm run by Colin Thomas, of Town Hill, Yoxall. The case is set to be heard alongside a long-standing class action lawsuit against Spanish developer Ricardo Miranda Miret. Mr Thomas has already been served a subpoena to appear at a court in Spain earlier this year, only for the case to be delayed after the trial judge had be to be changed. A court date is expected to be revealed in the next few weeks so that the cases can be heard in tandem. If Mr Thomas does not appear, a European arrest warrant will be issued. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, the Spanish prosecuting lawyer from Marbella-based firm <strong>Lawbird</strong>, said: “The court has deemed it necessary that Colin Thomas and others attend personally, rather than giving a statement in the UK, on grounds of the complexity of the case, the volume of documentation and the principle of judicial immediacy. “Once they are summoned again, failing to turn up could trigger the issue of an European Arrest Warrant. “I don’t believe OVP knew anything about what was going on but this was a scam of huge proportions.” A criminal claim for fraud and misappropriation of funds was lodged in February 2011 in a bid to recover deposits paid by investors to (OVP). The company was set up in 2001 by buy-to-let millionaire Thomas and other businessmen. It was behind a string of successful overseas propoerty enterprises but ran into difficulties when it became involved as a UK agent for Spanish developer Ricardo Miranda Miret. More than 1,000 British investors, who paid a total of £45 million for ‘off-plan’ overseas property developments, have lost their money after the firm was formally dissolved in 2009 with the appointment of liquidators Grant Thornton. The court claims are linked to developments which never materialised. Mr Thomas is currently banned from being a company director for nine years following an Insolvency Service investigation. He was also cleared by the Serious Fraud Office and Staffordshire Police following an investigation into the collapse of OVP. Former OVP boss Thomas, others accused and Miranda have all ‘strongly denied’ any wrongdoing.
      • post_titleMillionaire set for new court date
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      • post_date2013-07-17 11:03:42
      • post_date_gmt2013-07-17 10:03:42
      • post_contentUna pensionista holandesa que reside en Benahavís podría ser desahuciada de su casa el próximo 31 de julio, tras haber solicitado acogerse al decreto andaluz de vivienda suspendido por el Tribunal Constitucional, si la jueza no le permite ampararse a la norma estatal de protección a deudores hipotecarios y paraliza el desahucio. Según indicó ayer su abogado, <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, tras superar un cáncer en 2008, la mujer aceptó la proposición de Jyske Bank, radicado en Gibraltar, y pidió un préstamo de 413.000 euros para adquirir una nueva casa y otro de 123.000 euros sobre su vivienda, sin cargas, con el fin de "trabajar conjuntamente" con la entidad. Ella "no ha abonado ni una cuota", por lo que el banco planteó una demanda de ejecución hipotecaria sobre el nuevo inmueble, que ya se ha adjudicado, y otra sobre su casa habitual. La defensa solicitará suspender el desahucio de esta última por dos años, en virtud del decreto ley de medidas urgentes para reforzar la protección a los deudores hipotecarios y pedirá la suspensión por cláusulas abusivas, según la normativa europea. La mujer está en riesgo de exclusión social, ya que tiene una pensión de menos de 500 euros y es usuaria de Cáritas.
      • post_titlePiden parar el desahucio de una jubilada en riesgo de exclusión social
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      • post_date2013-06-21 17:04:10
      • post_date_gmt2013-06-21 16:04:10
      • post_contenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvOj15h2Erc
      • post_titleToni Muldoon Brought to Justice - BBC Look East - 19-06-2013
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      • post_date2013-06-19 23:19:32
      • post_date_gmt2013-06-19 22:19:32
      • post_content  <div id="slideshow_container"> <div id="ss_slides"> <div><img class="alignright" alt="Toni Muldoon" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/68173000/jpg/_68173819_anthony_toni_muldoon_least_still.jpg" width="464" height="261" /></div> <strong><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22870406#story_continues_1"><span style="color: #333333;">Dance music and the aroma of pizza pump out of restaurants while rows of luxury yachts and cruisers glint in the sun.</span></a></strong> </div> </div> Staff clutch menus, hoping to catch a tourist's eye, while competing ticket sellers hand out flyers about their boat trips to see the dolphins. This is the Costal Del Sol, a magnet for expats and holidaymakers seeking a bit of Spanish sun with a distinctly British flavour. It was also the home of millionaire expat Toni Muldoon as he conned vulnerable people back in Britain out of money they could ill afford to lose. While they signed up to his £5.7m fake escort or debt elimination scams, he "flaunted" his wealth and lived a life of luxury in a 10-bedroom villa.<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22870406#story_continues_2">Continue reading the main story</a> <div style="float: right;"> <blockquote>He is a despicable criminal. He has ripped thousands of people off</blockquote> <em id="__mceDel">Antonio Flores - Lawyer</em> </div> <p id="story_continues_2">"Muldoon was a typical expat," said <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a lawyer who investigated Muldoon.</p> He added: "He was a vain man, he liked to show his wealth and he liked people to know who he was, even though he was in the wrong business." In Benalmadena, described by one ticket seller as a "five-star area", Muldoon had a pleasure boat and aqua taxi business. The Caribbean Lady, which has since been seized as an asset, took tourists out into the Mediterranean. A chalk board and posters still advertise the boat, with a gap in the marina where it was once moored. <strong>Call-centre operators</strong> A few miles away is the sprawling holiday resort Fuengirola, with its high-rise beachfront hotels. Muldoon liked to show his wealth here and in Marbella, visiting bars and restaurants. The headquarters of his fraudulent schemes could be found in an office and call-centre, where tables are still laden with phones. <div><img alt="Office in Fuengirola" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/68173000/jpg/_68173228_office.jpg" width="464" height="261" />A call centre, crucial to the fraud, was based in an office in Fuengirola</div>   Operators would answer calls from British customers keen to sign up as an escort or to have their debt cleared by one of Muldoon's bogus businesses. The BBC asked people in the marina and at bars along the coast about Muldoon, but they are all reluctant to speak about him - except for Mr Flores. <strong>'Big criminal organisation'</strong> Before the fraud, investigated by Suffolk trading standards, Muldoon extracted millions from UK timeshare owners wanting to sell their properties. Mr Flores, of <strong>Lawbird Legal Services</strong> in Marbella, spent 10 years investigating the scam and last year took a group action in the Malaga courts on behalf of 190 UK victims. [caption id="attachment_1149" align="alignright" width="304"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1149" alt="Antonio Flores" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/68135747_antonio.jpg" width="304" height="171" /> Antonio Flores described Muldoon as "despicable"[/caption] Muldoon was given a two-year suspended sentence for swindle and criminal association. <div style="text-align: left;"></div> <div style="text-align: left;">Mr Flores believes there are people in the Costa Del Sol who have already stepped into Muldoon's shoes, running cold-call schemes asking for upfront fees.</div> "They [Muldoon's businesses] would say there were people willing to buy their timeshare and in order to secure the deal the owners had to send a deposit," he said. "What he was doing is ripping people off once and then he would have another company call people offering them legal services to recover the sum which they had lost. It was another scam. "He's a clever guy, he's able to run a business - it does have a structure with offices and staff and telephones. "They start at 9, they finish at 6 and in that time they have to sign up a certain number of people. "He is a despicable criminal. He has ripped thousands of people off, each out of £3,000, £4,000. Some of them elderly vulnerable people. "It was a big criminal organisation. "He's made millions over the years, for sure. I expect he hasn't been stupid and has stashed away a lot of money." <strong>'Dreaded extradition'</strong> Mr Flores said the guilty plea in the UK courts was not a sense of closure because the victims of the timeshare fraud had not got their money back, nor had they had the sense of justice of seeing Muldoon go to prison in Spain. <div><img alt="Toni Muldoon's Spanish villa" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/68169000/jpg/_68169353_20130419_092852.jpg" width="464" height="261" />Muldoon's villa in Campo Mijas has also been seized as an asset</div>   Instead of serving time in Spain, Muldoon returned to a quiet community nestling in the hills above Fuengirola. Las Mimosas in Campo Mijas feels like a gated community, with each house surrounded by high walls, a gate at least 7ft tall, with buzzer entry and a warning about burglar alarms. Its residents are mostly expats - Dutch, Swiss and British, to name a few - with Muldoon clearly not mixing with his British neighbours. His peach-coloured mansion is ostentatious, a swimming pool on a terrace sheltered by something like a giant dressing partition for extra privacy. But, more than 1,000 miles away from Campo Mijas, Muldoon's life of deceit was beginning to come crashing down as trading standards officers in Ipswich were gathering a mound of evidence against him. Perhaps those dominant walls and gates prepared him for his next home, HMP Norwich, where he has already spent several months on remand. The dramatic change in lifestyle is, in part, a kind of justice for his victims. "We heard from the police he would be happy to go to jail in Spain because he knew he was going to be treated more leniently than in the United Kingdom," said Mr Flores. "He had dreaded the fact of being extradited and he fought his extradition through the Spanish courts." <strong>Related News</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22842059" target="_blank">Suffolk Trading standards cracked £5.7m escort and debt sca</a>m</li> <li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-22941598">Escort scam trial: Ex-detective Christopher Taylor downfall</a></li> </ul>
      • post_titleSuffolk fraud: 'Despicable' Toni Muldoon 'flaunted wealth'
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      • post_date2013-05-18 16:29:57
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      • post_contentOnce a land of Ferraris, cocaine and women, it was the flashy destination of choice for the most notorious fugitives of Britain's underworld. Now, as the arrest of Andrew Moran shows, Spain's "Costa del Crime" is the worst place to go on the run, reports Colin Freeman. <div> Since he last gained fame as a brief item in the "Crimewatch" slot of his local television news, a lot has changed for Manchester armed robber<strong> Jason Coghlan</strong>. </div> <div> Having broken out of the dock during a court appearance in 1999, he spent a fortnight as one of the North West's most wanted men before being re-arrested and sentenced to 12 years in Britain's highest security jails. </div> <div> Today, though, the man the police warned the public not to approach comes across as very approachable, having turned his back on crime in favour of a new venture in sunny Marbella. </div> <div> This time he is on the right side of the law - just - acting as a legal "Mr Fixit" to the British criminal fraternity, who complain that a decent Spanish lawyer is as hard to find as a decent Spanish plumber. </div> <div> "A lot of lawyers out here aren't good at acting for foreign criminals, and when Brits get arrested they need someone like me to guide them to a decent one," said Mr Coghlan, 43, whose younger brother, Arran, is nicknamed the "Teflon Don" back in Manchester after three separate attempts to prosecute him for different murders failed.   </div> <div> _{<img alt="" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02566/jason_2566487c.jpg" width="460" height="287" name="jason" />Jason Coghlan} "I make sure they're represented properly and handle the translation issues, but I can also talk the criminal's language, as it were, because of my background," Mr Coghlan added. One potential client for Mr Coghlan now is fellow Mancunian Andrew Moran, 31, who last week became the star of his very own mini-gangster movie when Spanish police released a video of his arrest at the poolside of his villa in Calpe, near Benidorm. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10052416/Andrew-Moran-most-wanted-fugitive-caught-on-Costa.html" target="_blank"><strong>The footage</strong></a>, which received widespread media coverage, showed police creeping up on Mr Moran as he sunbathed, pouncing on him as he vaulted over a garden wall to escape. That it looked like a scene from the Costa-based crime flick Sexy Beast, in which Ray Winstone's retired villain whiles away life by the pool, was no coincidence. Spanish police, who allegedly discovered two pistols at Moran's villa, knew that if they grabbed him in his trunks, he was unlikely to be armed. In the back yard of Moran's empty villa this weekend, a bottle of Factor 20 suncream was the only remaining sign of his life in the run, which began four years ago with a previous vault from the dock of Burnley Crown Court, when he was on trial for a mail van hold-up. Spanish judges are now debating whether to extradite him to Britain, or try him in Spain, where he faces separate charges of cannabis dealing and ramming two police cars while evading a previous arrest attempt last year. Yet while Moran's arrest was hailed as a triumph by British police, who nowadays work much more closely with their Spanish counterparts, it also showed that the "Costa del Crime" is still popular with Britons facing accusations of villainy. Moran was on a list of no less than 65 "most wanted" issued in the past six years by Operation Captura, the Spanish arm of Britain's Crimestoppers scheme, which targets suspects thought to be hiding in Spain by distributing leaflets and beer mats with hotline numbers to expat bars. Of that 65, all but 15 have now been arrested. And at the risk of doing himself out of future clients, Mr Coghlan says that other fugitives planning on coming here should think again. "Quote me on this - Spain is singularly the worst place to go on the run," he said. <img alt="" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02560/moran_2560786c.jpg" width="460" height="287" name="moran" /> ^{Police capture Andrew Moran in Calpe.} "In the 1970s it was okay because there was no extradition treaty. But nowadays there is lots of police attention, both British and Spanish. You might as well hide in Norfolk. Spain is not an imaginative choice at all, but then again, many villains do not have much imagination." It is a far cry from the old days, which Mr Coghlan himself caught the tail end of in the 1990s, when he would regularly head out to Marbella to spend the proceeds of his crimes, blowing tens of thousands of pounds in just a few weeks. "Back then I felt like a king, and it felt safe to spend money there," he said. "There was a place where you could hire Ferraris for £600 a day, and the women were experts at parting you from your cash. I loved the birds, and I'd buy them whatever it took - jewellery, clothes whatever - just so we'd look good when out at night. "But the Spanish police back then were a different breed, and you could still offer them money to get out of serious situations. Act all flash these days, and you'll soon get into trouble." Certainly, Mr Moran appears to have kept a low profile, having had a distinctive mole removed via plastic surgery and swapping his skinhead look for a short-back-and sides and wispy moustache. He also seems to have avoided the expat bars in Calpe's "English Square" where, apart from a local character named "Pikey Pete", no-one remembers seeing any villainous types for years. "Nowadays, those kind of people stay in villas out in the countryside and keep themselves to themselves," said one drinker, who nonetheless asked not to named. Making life harder these days is increased airport security, the introduction of the pan-European arrest warrant in 2004, and occasional swoops by Spanish police, who will sometimes do random ID checks in bars frequented by British villains. Yet many fugitives do still take their chances here, as is evident from a flick through the outstanding Captura wanted list, where the mugshots of Glasgow hardmen, Geordie gangsters and East End enforcers show the modern British underworld at all levels. At the upper end are current fugitives like David Andrews, 66, accused of running a major cocaine trafficking gang, and Derek "Decco" Ferguson, wanted over a Strathclyde pub carpark shooting in 2007. Further down, meanwhile, are men like alleged heroin dealer Scott Coleman, who, with a distinctive pair of lips tattooed on his buttocks, has presumably had to be more cautious with the ladies than Mr Coghlan was. So why do they still come? "It's partly because there is a well established British community there that they can assimilate into very easily," said Dave Allen, head of the fugitives unit at the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. "Parts of Spain are basically like south London with sunshine. Having said that, we've changed our policing methods a lot in the last 30 years, and nowadays, criminals who move abroad are never off our radar." The other attraction is Spain's prime location in the drug trade, which is now booming more than ever. Cocaine and marijuana is easily trafficked in from North Africa, from where it can then be sold retail on the Costa club scene, or shipped wholesale to Britain. According to some estimates, as many as 30 or 40 British criminal gangs now operate in southern Spain, alongside Dutch, Eastern European and Irish gangs, the latter fleeing recent crackdowns in their Dublin strongholds. True, increased transport hub security in the post 9/11 era makes airports and ports harder for fugitives. But many use so-called "FOG" passports - or "fraudulently obtained genuine" passports - whereby a criminal will bribe someone for their personal documents and then use them to obtain a legally valid passport. Once out in Spain, criminals can also usually rely on networks of contacts to help them, said Mr Allen - assuming they are not "too hot to handle". But while a large criminal fraternity can help provide a support network, it can also be a problem. Fellow villains are far more likely to recognise fugitives - and give their game away - than ordinary members of the public are. "The police always call it 'intelligence' to make themselves sound intelligent, but when they arrest someone it's usually just some other villain has informed on them," said Mr Coghlan. Which is where his new Marbella-based firm, Jacog Law, comes in. Specialising in "Spanish to English Criminal Legal Services", it has gained 28 clients since starting 16 months ago, including a Briton accused of smuggling a tonne of hashish, and a suspected IRA hitman convicted of murdering Daniel Smith, himself a suspected gangster, in a bar near Marbella in 2010. And while Mr Coghlan does not claim to be a lawyer, he does bring considerable practical experience of criminal legal systems, both in Britain and in Spain. Originally from Stockport, he fell into crime when he was young, being booted out of the Commandos for assault and theft and then becoming involved in car-ringing and robbery. His brother Arran, meanwhile, has been accused three times of the murders of northern gangland figures and also arrested over a large-scale cocaine smuggling plot. He has never been convicted of any of the offences, however, and insists he is a legitimate businessman facing a police vendetta. After his initial arrest for the 1999 post office robbery, Jason Coghlan escaped from Trafford Magistrates Court, where, having told guards he needed crutches for a leg injury, he threw the crutches away and leaped over the dock. He was then caught in Blackpool a fortnight later, and having been classified as a Category Double AA high-risk prisoner, served his time in maximum security jails like Whitemoor, where he met Britain's topmost gangsters. Among them was the Brinks Mat bullion handler and road rage killer Kenneth Noye, who himself was arrested in Spain in 1998 after two years on the run. "I did ask him once why he'd gone to the south of Spain," said Mr Coghlan. "He said that for people of his generation, it was the only place they really knew." Having decided to reform, Mr Coghlan become a jail-house lawyer while inside, advising other prisoners on legal cases and appeals. He got the idea for his current venture, though, after subsequently being thrown in jail in Spain, where he went after his release in Britain to pursue an alleged time-share fraudster who owed his mother money. The man complained to the police, who then arrested Mr Coghlan and held him on remand for 11 months. Worse still, he claims, a lawyer he paid €10,000 to only visited him once. "It is hard to describe how bad the legal service is out here," he said. "While I was in prison I also heard dozens of other complaints about the inefficiencies of lawyers out here, and having learned the hard way, I now want to change that." To that end, his firm refers work to a number of favoured legal firms, in return for a percentage of any fees they then charge. Unlike some Spanish legal firms, he says, they will challenge weak police cases rather than simply plea bargaining. "It is fair to say that a lot of Spanish lawyers take a rather laid back approach," agreed <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a leading lawyer at<strong> Lawbird Legal Services</strong> in Marbella, which has had referrals from Mr Coghlan. True, Mr Coghlan freely admits that his own reputation helps to ensure that nobody trifles with his clients. But he adds: "There is nothing legally wrong with what we do, even if the authorities don't like it. And I'm not pretending to be a lawyer, I'm just a good case administrator." Ironically for a man who now claims to have gone straight, the success of his future venture will, of course, depend on the Costa del Crime continuing to attract villains. As things stand, though, that seems likely - even if they do look over their shoulder rather more often while sitting by the pool. </div>
      • post_titleWhy Spain's Costa del Crime is now the worst place to go on the run
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:00:56
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      • post_date2013-04-28 13:27:58
      • post_date_gmt2013-04-28 12:27:58
      • post_contentLAWYERS have called a halt to a case concerning an alleged multi-million pound overseas property scam involving a Yoxall businessman in an effort to get the judge changed - after they claimed his brother had links with some of the firms involved with the case. In a letter to hundreds of people impacted, legal bosses have revealed that they have asked for Judge Jose Emilio Coronado Ruz to be removed from presiding over a class action lawsuit against Spanish developer Ricardo Miranda Miret. Lawyers are delaying the case until the judge is replaced after links between his brother and one of the developers involved in the case were uncovered. Previously, the Mail has revealed that Colin Thomas, of Town Hill, had been subpoenaed to appear in Madrid. The criminal claim for fraud and misappropriation of funds was lodged in 2011 in an effort to recover money on behalf of dozens of Ocean View Properties (OVP) victims. Mr Thomas’s company, OVP, was behind a string of successful overseas propoerty enterprises but ran into difficulties when it became involved as a UK agent for Spanish developer Ricardo Miranda Miret. More than 1,000 British investors, who paid a total of £45 million for ‘off-plan’ overseas property developments, have lost their money after the firm was formally dissolved in 2009 with the appointment of liquidators Grant Thornton. The court claims made in Madrid are linked to developments which never materialised at the Estepona Country Club on the Costa del Sol and Punta Perla, in the Dominican Republic. Mr Thomas is currently banned from being a company director for nine years following an Insolvency Service investigation. He was also cleared by the Serious Fraud Office and Staffordshire Police following an investigation into the collapse of OVP. Neither Mr Thomas nor his advisors were available for comment.
      • post_titleLawyers move to change judge in house scam case
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:02
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      • post_date2013-04-25 12:24:36
      • post_date_gmt2013-04-25 11:24:36
      • post_content<a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-04-25-Lawbird-Owner-of-leisure-complex-Laguna-Village-to-Pay-Investor.pdf"> </a><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-04-25-Lawbird-Owner-of-leisure-complex-Laguna-Village-to-Pay-Investor.pdf"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1122" style="margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px;" alt="2013-04-25-Lawbird-Owner-of-leisure-complex-Laguna-Village-to-Pay-Investor" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2013-04-25-Lawbird-Owner-of-leisure-complex-Laguna-Village-to-Pay-Investor.jpg" width="200" height="695" /></a>2013-04-25-Lawbird-Owner-of-leisure-complex-Laguna-Village-to-Pay-InvestorThe Malaga Appeal Court has ordered the property developing company Playa Padrón Estepona S.L., managed by German businessman <b>Jürgen Sauer,</b> owner of the Estepona leisure complex <b>Laguna Village</b> and co-founder of the <b>Kempinski</b> hotel, to pay just under 500,000 euros to a British investor. The investor, represented in court by lawyer <b>Luis Fernando Gonzalez Ordoñez,</b> from Marbella law <b>firm Lawbird Legal Services</b>, had exchanged contracts in 2006 for the acquisition of several units in the complex. However the purchase was never completed because these units were rented out to third parties even though the seller had agreed, contractually, that they were to be sold “free from occupants”. The investor had paid 185,000 euros to the developer and agreed that, in the event that he was unable to conclude the transaction he would forfeit the deposit but, if the developer was unable to sell under the terms and conditions agreed, it would return twice the deposit, plus interest. The initial case against the developers ruled in their favour, citing the relevant clause as a clerical error. Following the successful appeal the company managing Laguna Village is obliged to pay 365,000 euros to the investor plus accrued interest since 2006 and legal costs.
      • post_titleOwner of leisure complex Laguna Village ordered to pay back deposit to British investor
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:02
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          • post_date2013-05-17 12:39:24
          • post_date_gmt2013-05-17 11:39:24
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          • post_title2013-04-25-Lawbird-Owner-of-leisure-complex-Laguna-Village-to-Pay-Investor
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  • 40(array)
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      • post_date2013-04-18 18:27:25
      • post_date_gmt2013-04-18 17:27:25
      • post_content<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130412-Sur-in-English-Property-And-Finance-Done-Right-Sur-in-English.pdf"><img class="size-full wp-image-1098 aligncenter" style="margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px;" alt="2013-04-Lawbird-Sur-in-English-Property-and-Finance-Done-Right" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-04-Lawbird-Sur-in-English-Property-and-Finance-Done-Right.jpg" width="600" height="417" /></a>There is general agreement that this is a good time to buy property in Spain. Prices are unlikely to drop further and those who are looking to buy as an investment should receive a good return when they sell in the medium to long term. Those looking for a main residence or holiday home will also be able to afford a larger or more luxurious property than they might otherwise have done.</p> Whatever the reason for the purchase, buying a property is a major investment and one that needs to be protected and looked after. The number one rule in this regard is to use the services of a lawyer. It might be tempting to save money by not doing so if everything appears to be straightforward, but this could well prove to be a false economy. Why is a lawyer essential? For many reasons, says <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, of <strong>Lawbird Legal Services</strong> in Marbella. Horror stories can happen. [..] <strong>Download the PDF for further reading:</strong> <ul> <li><span style="line-height: 13px;"><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130412-Sur-in-English-Property-And-Finance-Done-Right-Sur-in-English.pdf">20130412-Sur-in-English-Property-And-Finance-Done-Right-Sur-in-English</a> (PDF ~1Mb) </span></li> </ul>
      • post_titleProperty and finance - doing it right
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          • post_date2013-05-13 18:42:48
          • post_date_gmt2013-05-13 17:42:48
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          • post_title2013-04-Lawbird-Sur-in-English-Property-and-Finance-Done-Right
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  • 41(array)
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      • ID1085
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      • post_date2013-04-18 17:55:51
      • post_date_gmt2013-04-18 16:55:51
      • post_contentLa Audiencia Provincial de Málaga ha condenado a la mercantil Playa Padrón Estepona S.L., promotora del complejo de ocio radicado en Estepona conocido como 'Laguna Village', fundada y administrada por el empresario alemán Jürgen Sauer, <strong>a abonar cerca de medio millón de euros a un inversor británico</strong>. Dicho inversor, representado en juicio por el letrado de <strong>Lawbird</strong> <strong>Luis Fernando González Ordóñez</strong>, había firmado un contrato de arras para la adquisición de varias unidades en el complejo en el año 2006, en régimen de concesión administrativa, y <strong>no pudo escriturarlas al estar éstas alquiladas</strong>, dándose la circunstancia de que las mismas se habían vendido "libres de inquilinos u ocupantes". En total, <strong>el inversor abonó 185.000 euros a la promotora</strong>, y acordaron que de no proceder con la escritura por causa imputable a la compradora, esta perdería el depósito, pero que de ser la vendedora la que no pudiera vender, vendría obligada a devolver el doble de lo abonado —según se prevé para los contratos de arras penitenciales—, más los intereses desde el año 2006 y las costas procesales causadas. El Juzgado de Primera Instancia 2 de Estepona dio inicialmente la razón a la mercantil Playa Padrón Estepona S.L., no estimando la petición del inversor británico, al aceptar como buena, entre otras, la alegación de que la cláusula de devolución del duplo de lo abonado se insertó en el contrato por culpa de un error administrativo. Sin embargo, la Audiencia Provincial en reciente sentencia estima el recurso formulado por la representación legal del inversor y revoca íntegramente la sentencia,<strong>condenando a la mercantil concesionaria de complejo 'Laguna Village' a abonar 365.000 euros</strong>, con sus intereses y costas. Se da la circunstancia de que el empresario Jürgen Sauer, administrador de Laguna Village, cofundador del Hotel Kempinski de Estepona y propietario de la inmobiliaria Sauer, <strong>fue detenido en el año 2008 por un presunto delito de blanqueo de capitales en el marco de la Operación Hidalgo</strong> por la Juez María Jesús del Pilar Márquez, quinta instructora de la causa que inició el Juez Francisco de Urquía. El letrado<strong> Luis González</strong> ha señalado que "la mercantil no contesta a los requerimientos del despacho para proceder al abono del importe de la condena, por lo que se procederá a ejecutar la sentencia, embargando, si fuera necesario, los alquileres que regularmente abonan los inquilinos de los locales del complejo Laguna Village".
      • post_titleCondenan al cofundador del hotel Kempinski a abonar medio millón de euros
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      • post_date2013-03-31 18:01:16
      • post_date_gmt2013-03-31 17:01:16
      • post_content<strong>El Supremo confirma una sentencia de la Audiencia Provincial de Málaga que estimó el recurso de una compradora de una residencia en Marbella</strong> El Tribunal Supremo ha dictado una sentencia en la que determina que la falta de licencia de primera ocupación es causa de resolución del contrato de compraventa de una vivienda porque supone el incumplimiento de la entrega del inmueble cuando el permiso no va a concederse en un plazo razonable. El alto tribunal ha confirmado una sentencia dictada por la Audiencia Provincial de Málaga en diciembre de 2009 en la que estimó el recurso presentado por la compradora de una vivienda en Marbella, a la que previamente el Juzgado de Primera Instancia número 3 de la localidad había condenado a cumplir el contrato en los términos acordados. La Audiencia malagueña declaró resuelto el contrato suscrito en febrero del 2004 entre una mujer de nacionalidad irlandesa y la promotora del conjunto residencial en Marbella, decisión contra la que la empresa presentó un recurso de casación. Para corroborar el acierto de la sentencia recurrida por la promotora, el Supremo argumenta que ésta no ha acreditado que la falta de licencia de primera ocupación obedezca a una simple demora y que no existan obstáculos para su obtención, según la resolución a la que ha tenido acceso Efe. Por ello, entiende que la parte compradora no puede ser obligada a escriturar y cumplir con su parte del contrato "cuando subsiste la incertidumbre de si la promotora va a poder cumplir en un plazo razonable, siquiera tardíamente, con su obligación de entregar la referida licencia de primera ocupación". Además, explica que el cumplimiento de la obligación de entrega por el promotor no puede entenderse limitado a que la vivienda lo sea "en un sentido puramente físico", sino que debe comprender también su aspecto jurídico, y permitir que los suministros se contraten de forma regular y que el comprador pueda ejercer su derecho a alquilar o vender el inmueble. <p id="U3034074118918O3H"><strong>Deber incumplido</strong></p> Desde el punto de vista de protección de los consumidores, el Supremo concluye que el deber de información del promotor-vendedor no puede considerarse cumplido por la puesta a disposición de la documentación relativa a la vivienda, ya que debía informar a la compradora de que la edificación no se correspondía con la calificación urbanística del suelo. En este sentido, señala que la seguridad de la propiedad inmobiliaria es uno de los factores característicos de los sistemas jurídicos avanzados y tiene "más importancia, si cabe cuando los compradores son extranjeros", con menos facilidad para conocer toda la legislación española que pueda afectarles al comprar una vivienda en España. En cuanto a la documentación presentada por la promotora para demorar la sentencia, el Supremo precisa que la licencia de primera ocupación para el conjunto residencial, de 192 viviendas, se obtuvo en junio del 2012, cuando el plazo límite pactado era octubre del 2005. Y añade que la licencia "ni siquiera es completa", ya que excluye las piscinas comunitarias, uno de los elementos incluidos en el contrato, que quedaron fuera a expensas de la obtención de informe favorable de la Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía.
      • post_titleUn contrato de vivienda puede resolverse si falta la licencia de ocupación
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:02
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      • post_date2013-03-28 12:12:00
      • post_date_gmt2013-03-28 11:12:00
      • post_content<a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-03-28-Lawbird-Spanish-tax-office-will-not-accept-Equity-Release.pdf"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1111" style="margin: 25px 10px;" alt="2013-03-28-Lawbird-Promoter-sentenced-for-selling-property-with-an-irregular-licence-in-Marbella" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-03-28-Lawbird-Promoter-sentenced-for-selling-property-with-an-irregular-licence-in-Marbella.jpg" width="300" height="498" /></a>The Spanish Supreme Court has declared that a contract signed by an Irish purchaser with the developer <strong>Marbella Vista Golf S.L.</strong>, for a unit in <strong>Santa Maria Green Hills</strong>, was validly terminated by the purchaser. The Supreme Court has argued that for a property developer to comply with the contract not only is the unit to be completed, but it needs to have the mandatory license of occupancy. The Court of First Instance in Marbella deemed that the developer could not be held responsible for not having the licence, as it was up to the Town Hall to grant it and so, it was out of the control of the developer. The Appeal Court reversed this decision on grounds that granting licences of occupancy by administrative silence was not valid, if these violated planning laws and regulations. On appeal, the Supreme Court ratified this conclusion.- The Court also deemed that foreigners deserved extra protection given that, whilst their understanding of the laws was lower, they trusted the reliability of the Spanish system of protection of property rights. The building licence came under scrutiny from Marbella Town Hall as the residential complex had been built on land zoned for one family Andalusian style homes and had been challenged by the Junta de Andalucía. What Marbella Vista Golf SL had built was eleven blocks with 42 separate entrances, with carparks and communal zones, making up the residential complex of Santa María Green Hills.
      • post_titlePromoter sentenced for selling property with an irregular licence in Marbella
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          • post_date2013-05-17 12:17:49
          • post_date_gmt2013-05-17 11:17:49
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          • post_title2013-03-28-Lawbird-Promoter-sentenced-for-selling-property-with-an-irregular-licence-in-Marbella
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  • 44(array)
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      • ID1102
      • post_author1
      • post_date2013-03-22 11:34:44
      • post_date_gmt2013-03-22 10:34:44
      • post_content<a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-03-28-Lawbird-Spanish-tax-office-will-not-accept-Equity-Release.pdf"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1106" alt="Lawbird-Spanish-tax-office-will-not-accept-Equity-Release" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-03-28-Lawbird-Spanish-tax-office-will-not-accept-Equity-Release.jpg" width="450" height="573" /></a>   <strong>A Marbella law firm has denounced around ten banks for fraud</strong> Spanish “Hacienda” has recently confirmed that the so-called Equity release on Spanish property is not valid for tax mitigation purposes. According to an official answer to an enquiry submitted <b>by Lawbird Legal Services</b> representing 100 of approximately 1,000 victims, mostly British, attempting to mitigate wealth and inheritance taxes registering a charge against the property is tax fraud. <b> </b> This matter was denounced a year ago at the Audiencia Nacional as fraud, fraudulent publicity and tax evasion but the Magistrate Fernando Andreu dismissed the case on grounds that he deemed the allegations to not be of a serious nature and the facts were not proven conclusively. Civil proceedings have been filed and rulings are soon expected. <b> </b> According to <b>Antonio Flores</b> of <b>Lawbird</b>, “the Tax Office’s response represents a boost to the aspirations of the victims in relation to demonstrating that, indeed, they were victims of a scam and not accomplices to an alleged fraud, as has been insinuated”. <b> </b> Following the dismissal of the case by the National Audience back in April 2012 and further to a “denuncia” filed at the Malaga offices of the Spanish Tax Office, Lawbird indicated that it was this body who should investigate if such a “tax amnesty”, now deemed fraud, did actually exist. <b> </b> <b>Tax fraud </b> Hacienda has now come back stating that the approximately 600 mortgage loans sold to foreign pensioners with a Spanish property, under the pretext that they would allow them to - legally- mitigate wealth tax during the life of the subscriber, and inheritance taxes following their demise, cannot benefit from any reduction in such taxes. In fact, the Tax Office states that attempting to reduce the value of the home would constitute tax fraud and a criminal offence where the defrauded sum exceeds €120,000 per tax year. <b> </b> Lawbird deems that “the borrowers are victims because top banks confirmed the legality of the product, assisted by top-notch Madrid lawyers who now, following the repercussions of the case, are distancing themselves from their former clients.” <b> </b> <b>Banks </b> The banks allegedly involved are Nordea Bank Luxemburg, Danske Bank Luxemburg, Landsbanki, Jyske Bank,Rothschild, Sydbank and Nykredit who sold either directly, or through unregulated Costa financial offices, the financial packages. Most of the pseudo-IFAs have now disappeared. <b> </b> According to the victims, the strategy was to scare them with unbearable tax consequences should they not do anything with their unencumbered properties. Several banks, most of them from Scandinavian countries with private banking offices in Luxembourg, made their clients believe that that in Spain, if someone is to die without having a mortgage on their properties, the Tax Office would tax the inheritors so heavily that they would not be able to ever pay those taxes. <b> </b> They offered mortgage loans to reduce the value of their properties and advised that the loan capital should be sent to opaque tax havens, in some cases, with a view to have it invested on behalf of the pensioner. However, as a result of poor investment decisions by these banks the invested capital lost substantially and now, the victims are fighting to save their homes. <b> </b> This alleged financial plot started in 2004 and finished in 2008. Flores calculated that in Spain, over 500 couples could be affected, most of them pensioners. The total sum of funds taken out to Luxembourg could reach 250 million euros, according to the lawyer. The banks told their clients that this sum would be “tax free” if it was inherited in a tax haven, or without the Spanish Hacienda’s knowledge. The alleged fraud to the Tax Office could reach, on average, 20 per cent of the total sums, approximately 50 million euros in total. <b> </b> Lawbird is particularly worried that pensioners with very limited income, some of whom were over 85 years of age, decided to rush into speculative investments with their properties. <b>Spanish tax office will not accept equity release to mitigate taxes</b>  
      • post_titleSpanish tax office will not accept equity release to mitigate taxes
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          • post_date2013-05-17 11:40:00
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          • post_titleLawbird-Spanish-tax-office-will-not-accept-Equity-Release
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      • post_date2013-03-16 17:58:33
      • post_date_gmt2013-03-16 16:58:33
      • post_contentLa Agencia Tributaria ha dictaminado que las llamadas hipotecas inversas extranjeras no sirven para desgravar impuestos en España a quienes poseen inmuebles en nuestro país. Así se desprende de la documentación oficial difundida por el bufete de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella, que representa a un centenar de casi mil afectados, en su mayoría británicos, que denunciaron por estafa en 2011 a una decena de bancos extranjeros ante la Audiencia Nacional (AN). La querella fue archivada en 2012. Además del delito de estafa se denunció publicidad engañosa, defraudación a la Hacienda Pública, así como falsedad en documento público, en relación con la conocida como hipoteca inversa extranjera. El juez Fernando Andreu consideró que los hechos no revestían la gravedad necesaria y no se habían probado concluyentemente. La vía civil sigue abierta, en paralelo a la denuncia interpuesta por los afectados ante Hacienda. «Esta respuesta de Hacienda ahora, un año después, supone un espaldarazo a las pretensiones de las víctimas en cuanto a probar que, en efecto, fueron víctimas de un engaño y no copartícipes de un fraude fiscal», explica el abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, máximo responsable del despacho marbellí. Ahora, en respuesta a los denunciantes de dicha estafa, Hacienda hace constar que «los aproximadamente 600 préstamos hipotecarios» que se vendieron a jubilados extranjeros con vivienda en España, «bajo el pretexto de que servirían para reducir el Impuesto de Patrimonio del subscriptor, y al fallecimiento de éste el Impuesto de Sucesiones», no servirán para beneficiarse de ello.
      • post_titleHacienda respalda los argumentos de extranjeros que denunciaron a bancos por estafa
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      • post_date2013-01-18 20:31:20
      • post_date_gmt2013-01-18 19:31:20
      • post_content<strong>They are recusing him on the grounds of a connection with the accused</strong> More than a hundred people suing to get their money back in the case of a property development which was never built are seeking to get the judge disqualified from hearing the case after finding that his brother was associated with the main defendant, Ricardo Miranda Miret. The group of plaintiffs, most of them British and American, say that Ignacio Coronado Ruz, brother of Madrid judge José Emilio Coronado Ruz, was “a shareholder, secretary, and even chairman of the board of Paraíso Tropical SA”, a company owned by Ricardo Miranda, who is accused of fraud amounting to more than 12 million euros.   <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-01-18-OVP-Sur-in-English.pdf"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1013" alt="2013-01-18-Sur-in-English" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-01-18-Sur-in-English.jpg" width="400" height="567" /></a>
      • post_titleBritish plaintiffs challenge judge in Ocean View case
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          • post_date2013-01-31 12:34:04
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          • post_title2013-01-18-Sur-in-English
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      • post_date2013-01-18 12:37:23
      • post_date_gmt2013-01-18 11:37:23
      • post_content<h3>El hermano del magistrado estaba vinculado al principal implicado en el fraude</h3> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px;" alt="Audiencia Provincial Madrid" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/grande_foto_bc40b0748d4beee6fa620cff6aa749c3.jpg" width="360" height="326" /></p> El titular del Juzgado de Instrucción Número 16 de Madrid, José Emilio Coronado Ruz, ha sido recusado por un centenar de afectados por una macroestafa inmobiliaria en Estepona. El despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella, le demandan que abandone el caso, al conocer que el hermano de dicho instructor, Ignacio Coronado Ruz, ha sido "accionista, secretario e incluso presidente del consejo de administración de la sociedad Paraíso Tropical S.A.". Y es que, resulta sorprendente que el juez instructor no supiera la vinculación de su hermano con los hechos denunciados que comenzó a investigar hace dos años. La citada mercantil es propiedad de uno de los principales imputados en el caso, Ricardo Miranda, acusado de haberse apoderado de más de 12 millones de euros pagados por los estafados en concepto de depósitos para sus futuras viviendas. Las promociones, que iban a estar ubicadas en Estepona y en República Dominicana, nunca se llevaron a cabo. Además, el hermano del instructor ha sido también representante de la mercantil inversiones CCF S.A., antiguo cotitular de unos terrenos propiedad de sociedades de Miranda en República Dominicana. Y es que, es sabido que no solo hay afectados por el fraude en Estepona, sino tabién en el citado país caribeño. A su vez, la sociedad CCF S.A. era copropietaria de los terrenos dominicanos junto a CCF 21 Negocios Inmobiliarios S.A., cuyos dueños son los conocidos empresarios Carlos Sánchez Hernández y Andrés Liétor, ambos juzgados recientemente en el juicio oral del Caso Malaya. De este modo, el bufete Lawbird solicita además la ampliación de la querella inicial, pidiendo que sean imputados junto a Miranda los empresarios Sánchez y Liétor, además del hermano del magistrado, ya que todos ellos "cobraron de las empresas de Miranda por la venta de sus acciones y transmisión de los terrenos de República Dominicana". En concreto, Ignacio Coronado se embolsó 100.000 euros a título personal. Asimismo, cabe recordar que la inmobiliaria Ocean View y Sun Golf Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, cuyo dueño es Ricardo Miranda, promocionaron y vendieron a una gran parte de los querellantes - británicos, irlandeses y norteamericanos, que habían elegido Estepona como un lugar seguro para sus inversiones y también como segunda residencia - viviendas en la localidad en la promoción denominada Estepona & Country Club, que iba a construirse en Arrroyo Vaquero. Pero lo cierto es que la promotora jamás fue propietaria de dicho terreno, de hecho, ni si quiera el suelo es apto para edificar. Además, la licencia de obra nunca fue solciitada. Tan solo se pidió permiso para la caseta de ventas que, pero fue denegado por el Ayuntamiento de Estepona. De este modo, "tanto Ocean View como la promotora y Ricardo Miranda", estando al tanto de lo anterior, se enriquecieron con las ventas sobre plano, desviaron los depósitos a sus empresas en República Dominicana para financiar la compra de terrenos, y continuaron allí el irregular negocio inmobiliario. Por último, los letrados han destacado que para evitar el alcance de semejante engaño, los contratos solo fueron firmados por los compradores, mientras que la promotora se abstuvo de ello. <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/grande_foto_bc40b0748d4beee6fa620cff6aa749c3.jpg"> </a>
      • post_titleRecusan al juez instructor de una macroestafa inmobiliaria que tuvo lugar en Estepona
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:00:56
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      • post_date2013-01-17 23:40:24
      • post_date_gmt2013-01-17 22:40:24
      • post_contentMás de un centenar de afectados por una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol, en su mayoría de nacionalidad británica y norteamericana, han recusado al titular del Juzgado de Instrucción Número 16 de Madrid, José Emilio <strong>Coronado Ruz</strong>, tras detectar que su hermano, <strong>Ignacio Coronado Ruz</strong>, "<strong>aparece vinculado societariamente</strong> al principal implicado en el fraude, <strong>Ricardo Miranda</strong> Miret". El despacho de abogados Lawbird, con sede en la localidad malagueña de Marbella y representante de los afectados por dicha estafa, se ha hecho cargo de la presentación de la correspondiente recusación. En el escrito dirigido al juez Coronado Ruz para que abandone el caso, los abogados <strong>Antonio Flores Vila</strong> y <strong>Luis Fernando González Ordóñez</strong> han hecho constar que el hermano del instructor ha sido "accionista, secretario, e incluso presidente del consejo de administración de la sociedad Paraíso Tropical SA", según ha informado el despacho de abogados a través de un comunicado. Se trata de la mercantil propiedad del principal imputado, Ricardo Miranda, acusado de haberse apoderado de más de 12 millones de euros pagados por los estafados en concepto de depósitos para sus futuras viviendas. Las promociones, que iban a estar ubicadas en una parcela de Estepona y República Dominicana, nunca se llevaron a cabo. Así, Ignacio Coronado Ruz ha sido también representante de la mercantil Inversiones CCF S.A. --antiguo cotitular de unos terrenos propiedad de sociedades de Miranda en República Dominicana--, según el comunicado. Tal y como ya se conoció públicamente al presentarse la querella por esta estafa inmobiliaria, en febrero de 2011, no sólo hay afectados por el fraude en Estepona, sino también en el citado país caribeño, según el citado comunicado. La sociedad CCF S.A., a la que ha estado vinculado el hermano del juez instructor, era copropietaria de los terrenos dominicanos junto a CCF 21 Negocios Inmobiliarios S.A. cuyos dueños son los conocidos empresarios Carlos Sánchez Hernández y Andrés Liétor. Según ha informado el despacho de abogados Lawbird, ambos han sido juzgados recientemente en el juicio oral por el Caso 'Malaya' y se enfrentan a abultadas penas de cárcel por diversos delitos, principalmente cohecho. Así, el bufete <strong>Lawbird</strong> ha solicitado no sólo la recusación del juez Coronado, sino también la ampliación de la querella inicial. Pretenden que también sean imputados junto a Miranda los empresarios Sánchez y Liétor, además del hermano del magistrado de Plaza Castilla. "Todos ellos, incluido Ignacio Coronado, cobraron de las empresas de Miranda por la venta de sus acciones y transmisión de los terrenos de República Dominicana", ha expresado el comunicado. En concreto, la ampliación de la querella recoge que el hermano del titular del Juzgado de Instrucción 16 de Madrid habría cobrado 100.000 euros a título personal, aproximadamente. En opinión de los letrados querellantes "es impensable entender que el juez instructor no supiera la vinculación de su hermano con los hechos denunciados que comenzó a investigar". Así pues, afirman que Coronado "ha estado instruyendo casi dos años como si lo ignorara". También, lamentan que el juez ahora recusado no haya tomado medida cautelar alguna, desde que comenzó a instruir dicha querella, y no descartan "acciones judiciales directas" derivadas de los hechos de la recusación, "teniendo en cuenta en todo este caso la mejor atención a nuestros clientes que depositaron su confianza en la justicia penal española, y a fin de evitar que situaciones como la presente vuelvan a plantearse a nadie que acuda a pedir justicia en España". Los damnificados, en su mayoría de nacionalidad británica, pero también irlandeses y norteamericanos, habían elegido Estepona como un lugar seguro para sus inversiones y también como segunda residencia. Cabe recordar que la inmobiliaria Ocean View y Sun Golf Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, cuyo dueño es Ricardo Miranda, promocionaron y vendieron a gran parte de los querellantes viviendas en Estepona en la promoción denominada Estepona & Country Club. Se iba a construir en el paraje de Arroyo Vaquero. Además, Lawbird ha expresado que la promotora jamás ha sido propietaria del citado terreno y el suelo no es apto siquiera para edificar, nunca lo fue. Nunca fue solicitada la licencia de obra para construir, ante el Ayuntamiento de Estepona (Málaga). A lo máximo que llegó el promotor fue a pedir un permiso para la caseta de ventas que, incluso, fue denegado por el Consistorio malagueño. Por último, <strong>Lawbird</strong> ha denunciado que "tanto Ocean View como la promotora y Ricardo Miranda sabían todo lo anterior y, sin embargo se enriquecieron con las ventas sobre plano", desviando los depósitos a sus empresas en República Dominicana para financiar la compra de terrenos, y así continuar allí el irregular negocio inmobiliario objeto también de la querella. Los letrados <strong>Flores</strong> y<strong> González Ordóñez</strong> destacan que "para evitar el alcance de semejante engaño, la promotora nunca firmó los contratos que sí firmaron los compradores". Also in: <ul> <li><a title="Más de un centenar de británicos recusan al juez que investiga una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol" href="http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/malaga-00356/noticia-mas-centenar-britanicos-recusan-juez-investiga-macroestafa-inmobiliaria-costa-sol-20130117181951.html" target="_blank">Europa Press</a></li> <li><a title="Más de un centenar de británicos recusan al juez que investiga una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol" href="http://www.diariosur.es/20130117/local/marbellaestepona/centenar-britanicos-recusan-juez-201301171908.html" target="_blank">Diario Sur</a></li> <li><a title="Más de un centenar de británicos recusan al juez que investiga una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/policia-y-justicia/fraude/mas-de-un-centenar-de-britanicos-recusan-al-juez-que-investiga-una-macroestafa-inmobiliaria-en-la-costa-del-sol_nsxSRz9u42F61C8TvjLqy7/" target="_blank">La Información</a></li> <li><a title="Más de un centenar de británicos recusan al juez que investiga una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol" href="http://www.que.es/malaga/201301171819-centenar-britanicos-recusan-juez-investiga-epi.html" target="_blank">Qué!</a></li> <li><a title="Más de un centenar de británicos recusan al juez que investiga una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol" href="http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/1704255/0/" target="_blank">20 Minutos</a></li> </ul>  
      • post_titleMás de un centenar de británicos recusan al juez que investiga una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol
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      • post_date2013-01-17 22:56:34
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      • post_contentMás de un centenar de afectados por una estafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol, la mayoría de nacionalidad británica y norteamericana, han recusado al titular del Juzgado de Instrucción Número 16 de Madrid, José Emilio Coronado Ruz, tras detectar que su hermano, Ignacio Coronado Ruz, "aparece vinculado societariamente al principal implicado en el fraude, Ricardo Miranda Miret". El despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella y representante de los afectados, se ha hecho cargo de presentar la correspondiente recusación. En el escrito dirigido al juez Coronado Ruz para que abandone el caso, los abogados <strong>Antonio Flores Vila</strong> y<strong> Luis Fernando González Ordóñez</strong> han hecho constar que el hermano del instructor ha sido "accionista, secretario, e incluso presidente del consejo de administración de la sociedad Paraíso Tropical", según ha informado el despacho de abogados a través de un comunicado. Se trata de la mercantil propiedad del principal imputado, Ricardo Miranda, acusado de haberse apoderado de más de 12 millones de euros pagados por los estafados en concepto de depósitos para sus futuras viviendas. Las promociones, que iban a estar ubicadas en una parcela de Estepona y República Dominicana, nunca se llevaron a cabo. Ignacio Coronado Ruz ha sido también representante de la mercantil Inversiones CCF -antiguo cotitular de unos terrenos propiedad de sociedades de Miranda en República Dominicana-, según el comunicado. La sociedad CCF S.A., a la que ha estado vinculado el hermano del juez instructor, era copropietaria de los terrenos dominicanos junto a CCF 21 Negocios Inmobiliarios cuyos dueños son los empresarios Carlos Sánchez Hernández y Andrés Liétor, ambos procesados en el caso Malaya, en el que se enfrentan a abultadas penas de cárcel por diversos delitos, principalmente cohecho. El bufete Lawbird ha solicitado no sólo la recusación del juez Coronado, sino también la ampliación de la querella inicial. Pretenden que también sean imputados junto a Miranda los empresarios Sánchez y Liétor, además del hermano del magistrado de Plaza Castilla. "Todos ellos, incluido Ignacio Coronado, cobraron de las empresas de Miranda por la venta de sus acciones y transmisión de los terrenos de República Dominicana". La ampliación de la querella recoge que el hermano del titular del Juzgado de Instrucción 16 de Madrid habría cobrado 100.000 euros a título personal. En opinión de los letrados querellantes "es impensable entender que el juez instructor no supiera la vinculación de su hermano con los hechos denunciados que comenzó a investigar". Así pues, afirman que Coronado "ha estado instruyendo casi dos años como si lo ignorara".
      • post_titleRecusan al juez que investiga una estafa por vínculos familiares con la sociedad sospechosa
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      • post_excerptUn hermano del instructor ocupó cargos en el consejo de administración de la entidad
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      • post_date2013-01-17 21:19:01
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      • post_contentUn centenar de afectados por una <a href="http://elpais.com/diario/2011/02/18/andalucia/1297984932_850215.html">supuesta estafa inmobiliaria cometida en la Costa del Sol,</a> República Dominicana y Marruecos ha recusado al instructor de la causa, <a href="http://elpais.com/tag/jose_emilio_coronado/a/">José Emilio Coronado Ruz,</a> titular del juzgado de instrucción número 16 de Madrid, porque su hermano Ignacio Coronado Ruz, está vinculado societariamente al principal implicado en el supuesto fraude, Ricardo Miranda Miret. La querella por la estafa, que alcanza los 4 millones de euros, lleva casi dos años en instrucción. Sin embargo, los perjudicados han descubierto justo ahora el parentesco. Según el escrito de los abogados <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> y <strong>Luis Fernando González</strong>, el hermano del instructor ha sido “accionista, secretario e incluso presidente del consejo de administración de la sociedad Paraíso Tropical SA”, también propiedad del principal imputado. El bufete encargado del caso también ha solicitado una ampliación de la querella inicial con la que pretenden que se impute al hermano del magistrado y a los empresarios Carlos Sánchez Hernández y Andrés Liétor. Estos dos últimos han sido procesados y <a href="http://elpais.com/tag/caso_malaya/a/">están pendientes de sentencia por el <em>caso Malaya</em></a> contra la corrupción en el Ayuntamiento marbellí. Según los abogados, el hermano del magistrado ha sido también representante de la sociedad CCF S. A., dueña de unos terrenos en República Dominicana. Estas mismas parcelas también pertenecen a la sociedad CCF 21 Negocios Inmobiliarios S. A., cuyos dueños son los empresarios Sánchez y Liétor. Los afectados por la supuesta estafa, en su mayoría británicos, lamentan que el juez no haya tomado medida cautelar alguna desde que comenzó a instruir la querella y no descartan “acciones judiciales directas”. <a href="http://elpais.com/diario/2011/02/28/andalucia/1298848930_850215.html">La defensa del promotor Ricardo Miranda</a> sostiene que en este tiempo se ha demostrado que su defendido devolvió “todo el dinero que le reclaman”. “Se ha acreditado con transferencias bancarias”, añade el abogado Alberto Fraguas. <blockquote>Los perjudicados llegaron a pagar 4,2 millones por unas viviendas que no se construyeron</blockquote> Los querellantes acusan a Miranda y a la comercializadora <strong>Ocean View Properties,</strong> en proceso de liquidación, de cobrar sumas millonarias por tres promociones que nunca llegaron a construirse. Según sus testimonios, 43 de ellos llegaron a pagar 4,2 millones de euros por unos apartamentos en Estepona para los que, según la querella, el promotor no tenía ni la propiedad del terreno, ni llegó a solicitar licencia de obra. La entrega media oscilaba entre los 70.0000 y 100.000 euros, aunque algunos aportaron hasta un millón de euros por varias propiedades. Según la querella, la inmobiliaria Ocean View Properties se encargaba de comercializar las promociones y les daba a firmar un contrato tipo, en el que nunca aparecía la firma del promotor. Las promociones se llamaban Estepona Beach&Country Club, Punta Perla Marina (Republica Dominicana) y Tafedna Bay (Marruecos). Los afectados acusan al empresario de desviar el dinero que le entregaron por la promoción de Málaga a sociedades de República Dominicana. Miranda mantiene que la inmobiliaria Ocean View Properties le encargó que construyera la urbanización de Estepona y que le adelantaron por este trabajo 12 millones. El proyecto “no fue viable por problemas administrativos”, entonces, según su testimonio, devolvió a la inmobiliaria los 12 millones con una serie de transferencias que asegura haber acreditado.
      • post_titleUn centenar de afectados por una estafa masiva en la Costa del Sol recusa al juez
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      • post_date2013-01-17 19:15:39
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      • post_content<ul> <li>Al principal querellado se le acusa de haberse apoderado de 12 millones</li> <li>Las viviendas iban a construirse en Estepona y República Dominicana</li> <li>El imputado y el hermano del juez participaban en la sociedad Paraíso Tropical</li> </ul>   Más de un centenar de afectados por una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol, en su mayoría de nacionalidad británica, <strong>han recusado al titular del Juzgado de Instrucción Número 16 de Madrid, José Emilio Coronado Ruz</strong>, tras detectar que su hermano, Ignacio Coronado Ruz, aparece vinculado societariamente al principal implicado en el fraude, Ricardo Miranda Miret. El despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella y representante de los afectados por dicha estafa, se ha hecho cargo de presentar la recusación contra el conocido magistrado. Coronado Ruz saltó a la popularidad nacional en 1997, tras admitir en su sede judicial madrileña una denuncia de la esposa de Mario Conde, Lourdes Arroyo, que permitió reabrir temporalmente el llamado caso Argentia Trust, después de la primera condena de 6 años de prisión contra el banquero que luego el Supremo rebajó a 4 años y 6 meses. Según han informado este jueves desde el bufete marbellí los abogados <strong>Antonio Flores Vila</strong> y <strong>Luis Fernando González Ordóñez han enviado un escrito al juez Coronado para que abandone el caso</strong>. Hacen constar que el hermano del instructor ha sido «accionista, secretario, e incluso presidente del consejo de administración de la sociedad Paraiso Tropical SA». Se trata de la mercantil propiedad del principal querellado, Ricardo Miranda Miret, <strong>acusado de haberse apoderado de más de 12 millones de euros pagados por los estafados en concepto de depósitos para sus futuras viviendas</strong>. Las promociones, que iban a estar ubicadas en una parcela de Estepona y República Dominica, nunca se llevaron a cabo. Ignacio Coronado Ruz fue también representante de la mercantil Inversiones CCF S.A. (antiguo cotitular de unos terrenos propiedad de sociedades de Miranda en República Dominicana). Como ya se conoció públicamente al presentarse la querella por esta estafa inmobiliaria, en febrero de 2011, <strong>no sólo hay afectados por el fraude en Estepona, sino también en el citado país caribeño</strong>. La sociedad CCF S.A., a la que estuvo vinculado el hermano del juez instructor, era copropietaria de los terrenos dominicanos junto a CCF 21 Negocios Inmobiliarios S.A. cuyos dueños son los conocidos empresarios Carlos Sánchez Hernández y Andrés Liétor. Ambos se encuentran a la espera de sentencia en el caso Malaya y se enfrentan a abultadas penas de cárcel por diversos delitos, principalmente cohecho. Presuntamente entregaron sobornos a Juan Antonio Roca y fueron socios del ex asesor urbanístico marbellí. El bufete Lawbird ha solicitado no sólo la recusación del juez Coronado, sino también la ampliación de la querella inicial. <strong>Pretenden que sean querellados junto a Miranda los empresarios Sánchez y Liétor, además del hermano del magistrado</strong> de Plaza Castilla. "Todos ellos, incluido Ignacio Coronado, cobraron de las empresas de Miranda por la venta de sus acciones y transmisión de los terrenos de República Dominicana", denuncian los letrados marbellíes. En concreto, la ampliación de la querella recoge que el hermano del titular del Juzgado de Instrucción 16 de Madrid habría cobrado 100.000 euros a título personal, aproximadamente. En opinión de los querellantes "es <strong>impensable entender que el juez instructor no supiera la vinculación de su hermano </strong>con los hechos denunciados que comenzó a investigar". Así pues, afirman que Coronado "ha estado instruyendo casi dos años como si lo ignorara".   <strong><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-01-17-OVP-El-Mundo.pdf"><img alt="2013-01-17-OVP-El-Mundo" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-01-17-OVP-El-Mundo.jpg" width="400" height="354" /></a></strong>      
      • post_titleVinculan al hermano del magistrado con un imputado Británicos afectados por una macroestafa inmobiliaria en la Costa del Sol recusan al juez
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:01:31
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      • post_date2013-01-10 17:51:04
      • post_date_gmt2013-01-10 16:51:04
      • post_contentLa titular del Juzgado de Instrucción 4 de Marbella, Beatriz Fernández Gómez-Escolar, ha archivado la querella por presunto delito de estafa contra el conocido empresario inmobiliario <strong>Darragh MacAnthony,</strong>propietario de la desaparecida empresa de compra-venta de inmuebles que lleva su apellido. Según ha informado el despacho de abogados marbellí <strong>Lawbird</strong>, representante de un colectivo de afectados por las prácticas de MacAnthony, la magistrada ha alegado “en contra del criterio de la Audiencia Nacional” que dichos perjudicados <strong>“son extranjeros” </strong>y, por lo tanto, los tribunales españoles “carecen de jurisdicción” sobre los hechos denunciados. En su auto, la juez estima que “nos encontramos ante <strong>delitos que se han consumado en el extranjero </strong>habida cuenta de haberse producido los desplazamientos patrimoniales desde las cuentas que los perjudicados tenían en el extranjero, así como por ser extranjeros los presuntos estafadores”. En opinión de <strong>Lawbird</strong>, la instructora ha “obviado” el hecho de que tanto la sede del grupo empresarial como sus responsables <strong>tenían el domicilio en Marbella</strong>. Todas las transferencias se recibían en una cuenta de una sucursal de Solbank en esta misma ciudad, y es aquí donde el montante de los presuntamente estafado habría desaparecido. Los afectados por la presunta estafa, todos británicos e irlandeses,<strong>entregaron entre 10.000 y 15.000 euros para unos muebles </strong>que pensaban instalar en las viviendas que la inmobiliaria comercializaba en países como Turquía, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde o Italia. Firmaron sus contratos entre 2005 y 2010, año en el que la empresa cerró su sede en Marbella. El número de personas afectadas por los incumplimientos contractuales de MacAnthony a nivel global se cuentan por miles. Son varias las asociaciones de afectados que han iniciado acciones legales contra MacAnthony y sus empresas, siendo MRI-SG (Misled Realty Investors Support Group), con 1.400 miembros, la más activa. Darragh MacAnthoty es actualmente un personaje público en el Reino Unido, al ser<strong>propietario de un club de fútbol </strong>de la Primera División Inglesa, el Peterborough United. El abogado Antonio Flores, máximo responsable del citado bufete, ha recordado en un comunicado que la juez Fernández <strong>investigaba hasta ahora el paradero de 500.000 euros </strong>abonado por sus representados a la inmobiliaria denunciada “para la compra de unos inmuebles que nunca recibieron”. La decisión judicial se produce tras más de un año de instrucción y “a pesar de haber tomado declaración a todos los imputados”. Además, la magistrada ordenó también hace un año que todos los querellantes ratificaran en persona su denuncia, como así fue. Paralelamente, el también letrado Luis González Ordóñez, integrante del despacho Lawbird y quien lleva las riendas del caso, al representar a la mayoría de los querellantes, no ha ocultado su “asombro”, tras conocer el archivo de las actuaciones. No obstante, el penalista <strong>ya ha anunciado que recurrirán el auto, </strong>al no ser firme. Primero en reforma, ante el propio Juzgado y luego ante la Audiencia Provincial de Málaga, en apelación. <strong>“Es sorprendente y difícil de explicar </strong>que un juez archive este caso de estafa por ser extranjeros los estafadores denunciados y alegando que los hechos se habrían cometido en el extranjero”, explicó González Ordóñez. <strong>Entre los querellados figura un británico que reside desde su infancia en Marbella, </strong>y “el testaferro español de 90 años que se encuentra al frente como administrador del grupo empresarial MacAnthony, cuya sede en el momento de los hechos era precisamente el Club Financiero Inmobiliario”, reza el comunicado remitido. El nonagenario testaferro había declarado que cobraba un sueldo únicamente por figurar como administrador de la sociedad, si bien confirmó que no sabía absolutamente nada de los manejos que se realizaban con las cuentas bancarias ni el destino dado a los fondos.
      • post_titleArchivan la querella por estafa contra la inmobiliaria MacAnthony de Marbella
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      • post_date2012-10-19 17:31:55
      • post_date_gmt2012-10-19 16:31:55
      • post_contentMacanthonyAN Irish tycoon who faces the threat of losing his €20m Costa del Sol mansion has denied ripping off property investors. Football club chairman Darragh MacAnthony is facing allegations in court that he swindled holiday home owners out of hundreds of thousands of euro after failing to deliver furniture ordered for apartments in <a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Morocco">Morocco</a>, <a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a>and <a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Cape_Verde">Cape Verde</a>. Lawyers acting for investors have asked a Spanish judge to seize his Marbella villa so it can be sold to compensate clients if they win their case. Dublin-born Mr MacAnthony (36) is chairman of <a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Peterborough_United">Peterborough United</a> Football Club in England and has been involved in the foreign property business since the early 2000s. A group of over 50 Irish and British buyers claims €492,000 worth of furniture ordered was never delivered. Mr MacAnthony is contesting the claims. Mr MacAnthony currently has the villa on the market with an asking price of €20m. If secured, the court order would thwart his bid to sell. The stunning six-bed property, which sits on an 8,770sqm plot high in the mountains overlooking Marbella, boasts its own gym, three swimming pools, a sauna and an eight-car garage. Mr MacAnthony has already been quizzed in court in Marbella over the claims he swindled holiday home owners out of hundreds of thousands of euro. <strong>Investigation</strong> A judge in the Costa del Sol town is probing the colourful tycoon and former business associates as part of a criminal investigation into his Spanish-based property firm MacAnthony Realty International (MRI). Lawyer Antonio Flores, of Marbella's Lawbird Legal Services, has calculated that the financial claim from MRI customers could surpass €12m. Mr Flores said: "We have formally requested an extension of the existing criminal complaint to include the property and asked the investigating judge heading the probe to effectively embargo it and prevent its sale until the case is resolved. "It's the only asset Mr MacAnthony's got in Spain and we want to make sure it can be used to ensure our clients are compensated if we end up winning our case in court." Mr MacAnthony, who has not been charged with any crime, has said in the past: "There are no foundations behind these allegations. I certainly didn't do anything wrong and neither did anyone with MRI when I was there." <p id="articleAuthor">---</p> Story also publisehd on <a title="Football boss fighting fraud probe faces freezing order on €20m villa " href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/football-boss-fighting-fraud-probe-faces-freezing-order-on-20m-villa-210982.html" target="_blank">The Iris Examiner</a>.
      • post_titleIrish tycoon in ‘swindle’ claims could lose €20m Spanish villa
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      • post_date2012-10-08 10:43:58
      • post_date_gmt2012-10-08 09:43:58
      • post_content<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-940" style="border: 1px solid black;" title="2012-10-lawbird-cicatrices-del-ladrillo-el-pais-semanal" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012-10-lawbird-cicatrices-del-ladrillo-el-pais-semanal.jpg" alt="" width="462" height="638" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a title="2012-10-Artículo-El-Pais-Semanal-Lawbird" href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012-10-Art%C3%ADculo-El-Pais-Ruinas.pdf">Complete Article in PDF</a> (~4 Mbytes)</p>
      • post_titleCicatrices de Ladrillo
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      • post_excerptUrbanizaciones abandonadas que son testigos mudos de la resaca de la fiesta inmobiliaria en España. Alrededor de un millón de viviendas nuevas sin vender dibujan una topografía del lucro que la fotógrafa y arquitecta Julia Schulz-Dornburg ha recopilado durante dos años de trabajo.
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          • post_date2012-10-27 10:51:29
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          • post_title2012-10-lawbird-cicatrices-del-ladrillo-el-pais-semanal
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      • post_date2012-07-21 13:33:52
      • post_date_gmt2012-07-21 12:33:52
      • post_content<a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/raffle-home.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1078 alignright" style="margin: 25px;" alt="raffle-home" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/raffle-home.jpg" width="436" height="277" /></a>A Malaga court ruled that Arenal 2000 must give Suzan and Malcolm Windle, 68, a free home. The case dates back to 2006 when the couple were ‘over the moon’ to be told they had won a ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ competition for a new apartment worth €250,000 in Benalmadena. The couple from Yorkshire entered the competition with agent Andalucia Dream Homes when they bought their current home in Isla Redonda, near Sevilla. But the dream soon turned into a nightmare. “It is like being told you have won the lottery and then you haven’t,” explained Suzan, 54, whose picture was even used by the company for marketing their win on billboards along the N340. “We were over the moon when we won; and planned to rent it and use it as a holiday home,” she told the Olive Press. “But it has dragged on for six years and we never got a house.” During this time the two companies involved, Andalucia Dream Homes, which is now in liquidation, and Arenal 2000, owned by disgraced  businessman Rafael Gomez Sandokan, both blamed each other. “It has been six years of hell and stress as we have been passed from pillar to post,” added Suzan, who praised the work of her lawyer Roberto Leiro from Lawbird. “It is finally excellent news. As Arenal no longer owns the apartment we are either going to get another apartment or financial compensation. “We are just keeping our fingers crossed it is coming to an end.”
      • post_titleBritish couple finally receive the Spanish home they won six years ago
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptA BRITISH couple have won a six-year legal battle to force a property developer to give them a home they won in a raffle.
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          • post_date2013-05-08 13:35:23
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      • post_date2012-07-20 21:26:12
      • post_date_gmt2012-07-20 20:26:12
      • post_contentNo corren buenos tiempos para <strong>Rafael Gómez</strong>, alias <em>Sandokán</em>, el conocido constructor <em>malayo</em>. Si hace unos días el empresario era noticia porque su partido político (Unión Cordobesa) saltaba por los aires en Córdoba ahora, cuando la sentencia del <em>caso Malaya</em>, a punto de conocerse, le produce constantes quebraderos de cabeza, un juez le ha <strong>condenado a entregar una vivienda a una pareja de británicos.</strong> Resulta que el apartamento fue rifado en 2006 por su empresa Arenal 2000. Sin embargo, el matrimonio inglés que ganó el concurso nunca recibió el premio, a pesar de que reclamaron de forma constante para obtener la vivienda, <strong>valorada en 248.000 euros</strong>. El sorteo tuvo lugar el 28 de abril de 2006 ante el notario de Marbella<strong> Miguel Motos</strong>; los británicos no cabían en sí de gozo. A los pocos días se realizó la<strong>entrega simbólica de las llaves</strong> del apartamento en el piso piloto de la urbanización, con una espectacular puesta en escena y en medio de una celebración por todo lo alto. A la fiesta acudieron incluso algunos medios de prensa escrita. Sin embargo, el tiempo pasó sin que a la pareja se le entregase el apartamento. El retraso en otorgar el <em>premio</em> se atribuyó inicialmente a la falta de licencia de primera ocupación. Pero poco tiempo después se supo la verdadera razón por la que no se cumplía con la prometida entrega del apartamento: la empresa propietaria del mismo, Arenal Sur 21 S.A., a la sazón compañía del Grupo Arenal 2000, fue adquirida por Cajasur a través de su participada Prienesur al poco tiempo de estallar la ‘Operación Malaya’; y, con ella, la promoción donde estaba la vivienda en cuestión. Cajasur negó que el sorteo le vinculara con el <em>nuevo titular</em> de la vivienda. Ahora, un juez ha resuelto lo contrario y los Sres. <strong>Windle</strong>, que ya daban la batalla por perdida, no pueden creer su suerte. El juzgado obliga a Arenal 2000 y Andalucian Dream Homes a cumplir con el compromiso asumido, entregando la vivienda a los ganadores del sorteo, y les condena a pagar las costas del juicio. Y como la vivienda ya había sido vendida a una tercera persona, tendrán que abonar el importe de la misma. Lo dicho. Malos tiempos para Sandokán.
      • post_titleSandokán, condenado a entregar un piso que unos británicos ganaron en una rifa
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      • post_date2012-07-20 20:34:12
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      • post_content<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012-07-20-El-Mundo-Sandokan-Condenado-Entregar-Vivienda-Concurso.pdf"><img class="size-full wp-image-928 aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" title="sandokan-condenado" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sandokan-condenado.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="458" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;"></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Documents</strong></p>   <ul> <li><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012-07-20-El-Mundo-Sandokan-Condenado-Entregar-Vivienda-Concurso.pdf">2012-07-20-El-Mundo-Sandokan-Condenado-Entregar-Vivienda-Concurso</a> (PDF)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleCondenan a Arenal 2000 a entregar una vivienda sorteada antes de estallar Malaya
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          • post_date2012-09-03 20:38:45
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      • ID917
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      • post_date2012-07-20 14:21:14
      • post_date_gmt2012-07-20 13:21:14
      • post_content<div id="foto-1"><img src="http://www.diariosur.es/noticias/201207/20/Media/sandokan--647x231.jpg" alt="Condenan a 'Sandokán' a entregar una vivienda a los ganadores de un sorteo" width="647" height="231" /> <div> <div>Los ganadores de la vivienda en el momento en el que recibieron las llaves del apartamento de forma simbólica en 2006. :: Sur</div> </div> </div> <div id="story-texto"> <div>Una pareja de británicos que ganó una vivienda en un sorteo realizado en 2006 ha logrado que una juez reconozca su derecho a disfrutar de una casa que nunca llegó a entregarse. La titular del Juzgado de lo Mercantil Número 2 de Málaga ha condenado a la empresa Arenal 2000 S.L., propiedad del empresario cordobés Rafael Gómez Sánchez (Sandokán), y a Dream Homes World Wide S.L. a que entreguen a los afectados la vivienda tal y como se establecía en las bases de la rifa, que se realizó ante un notario de Marbella.</div> <div>Los hechos ocurrieron en 2006, cuando Suzan Windle y su pareja resultaron ganadores en un sorteo de la agencia inmobiliaria Andalucian Dream Homes S.L., que posteriormente pasó a denominarse Dream Homes World Wide S.L. y que se encargaba de comercializar la promoción de Benalmádena Arenal Golf; enclave en el que se encuentra situado el apartamento que se reclama, explicaron desde el despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, que representa a Windle.</div> <div>El sorteo tuvo lugar el 28 de abril de 2006 ante notario y, en los días posteriores, se realizó en el piso piloto de la urbanización la entrega simbólica de las llaves del apartamento, que está valorado en 248.000 euros. Según indicaron desde el despacho, los ganadores de la rifa se encontraban «felices» y participaron en un acto que contó con una «espectacular puesta en escena».</div> <div>Una vez construida la promoción y obtenida la licencia de primera ocupación, el acuerdo entre ambas mercantiles preveía que la promotora haría entrega de la vivienda a los ganadores, según indicaron las citadas fuentes, quienes precisaron que el acuerdo también recogía que Arenal recibiría de la agencia inmobiliaria la mitad del valor de la propiedad, una vez realizado el sorteo.</div> <div><strong>'Operación Malaya'</strong></div> <div>El retraso en la entrega de la vivienda a los ganadores se atribuyó a la falta de licencia de primera ocupación inicialmente. Desde el despacho Lawbird aseguraron que, poco tiempo después, «se supo la verdadera razón por la que no se cumplía con la prometida entrega del apartamento: la empresa propietaria del mismo, Arenal Sur 21 S.A., a la sazón empresa del Grupo Arenal 2000, fue adquirida por Cajasur a través de su participada Prienesur, al poco tiempo de estallar la 'Operación Malaya', y, con ella, la promoción donde estaba la vivienda en cuestión». Al respecto, añadieron que la entidad bancaria negó que el sorteo le vinculara.</div> <div>Ahora, el Juzgado de lo Mercantil Número 2 de Málaga obliga a Arenal 2000 y Dream Homes World Wide a cumplir con el compromiso asumido, entregando la vivienda a los ganadores del sorteo y condenando a ambas a pagar las costas del juicio, según estipula la sentencia. Finalmente, desde el despacho manifestaron que, al estar la vivienda ya vendida a una tercera persona, se solicitará el abono del importe de la misma.</div> </div>
      • post_titleCondenan a 'Sandokán' a entregar una vivienda a los ganadores de un sorteo
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptUna pareja de británicos obtuvo la casa en una rifa de Arenal 2000 y Dream Homes World Wide, aunque nunca recibió el premio
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:01:32
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      • post_date2012-06-20 05:30:58
      • post_date_gmt2012-06-20 04:30:58
      • post_contentEl juzgado de lo mercantil número 2 de Málaga ha condenado a la empresa Arenal 2000, propiedad del empresario cordobés Rafael Gómez Sánchez, a entregar una vivienda que fue sorteada entre los clientes -mayoritariamente británicos- de la agencia inmobiliaria Andalucía Dream Homes, que se encargaba de comercializar la promoción de Benalmádena Arenal Golf, donde está situado el apartamento objeto de disputa, según informó ayer Lawbird Legal Services. La inmobiliaria, también condenada, estaba en concurso de acreedores a la fecha de la presentación de la demanda, si bien se opuso a las pretensiones de los demandantes alegando, por un lado, no tener poder de disposición de la vivienda al ser propiedad de Arenal 2000 y, por otro, que la acción ya había prescrito. Según informaron ayer fuentes del caso, la empresa Arenal 2000 dejó transcurrir el plazo concedido para contestar a la demanda, por lo cual el juzgado pasó a dictar sentencia sin más trámite. El sorteo tuvo lugar el 28 de abril de 2006 ante el notario de Marbella Juan Miguel Motos Guirao. Según las mismas fuentes, días más tarde se realizó la entrega simbólica de las llaves del apartamento (valorado en 248.000 euros) en el piso piloto de la urbanización de Marbella a los ganadores. Una vez construida la promoción y obtenida la licencia de primera ocupación, según las citadas fuentes, el acuerdo entre ambas mercantiles preveía que la promotora haría entrega de la vivienda a los ganadores, los señores Windle. El acuerdo también recogía que Arenal recibiría de la agencia inmobiliaria la mitad del valor de la propiedad, una vez realizado el sorteo. El retraso en la entrega de la vivienda a los ganadores se atribuyó, continuaron, a la falta de licencia de primera ocupación inicialmente, "pero poco tiempo después se supo la verdadera razón por la que no se cumplía con la prometida entrega del apartamento: la empresa propietaria del mismo, Arenal Sur 21, a la sazón empresa del Grupo Arenal 2000, fue adquirida por Cajasur a través de su participada Prienesur, al poco tiempo de estallar la Operación Malaya y, con ella la promoción donde estaba la vivienda en cuestión". Las citadas fuentes incidieron en que Cajasur negó que el sorteo le vinculara en tanto nuevo titular de la vivienda. Por todo ello, el juzgado de lo mercantil obliga ahora a Arenal 2000 y Andalucian Dream Homes a cumplir con el compromiso asumido, entregando la vivienda a los ganadores del sorteo, y condenando a ambas a pagar las costas del juicio. Al estar la vivienda ya vendida a una tercera persona, se solicitará el abono del importe.
      • post_titleCondenan a Arenal 2000 a entregar un piso a los ganadores de un sorteo de 2006
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptEl apartamento, valorado en 248.000 euros, le correspondió a una pareja británica
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      • post_date2012-04-28 17:00:11
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-28 16:00:11
      • post_contentThe chairman of Peterborough United FC and former property developer Darragh MacAnthony, whose name once adorned MRI billboards welcoming potential buyers to ‘MacAnthony territory’, was back in Marbella this week to answer charges brought against Mac-Anthony’s MRI Property International by a group of about fifty former clients. The group, mainly British and Irish, say they paid 15,000 euros each for furniture packs for properties in Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy, Cape Verde, France and Morocco which were never delivered. <img class="alignright size-full wp-image-897" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="macanthony-court-mri" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/macanthony-court-mri.jpg" alt="" width="253" height="190" />Also appearing before the court in Marbella on Wednesday accused of fraud were Dominique Pickering, Sarah O’Callaghan and Nicola Shaw, all former MRI executives. Michael Liggan failed to appear. MacAnthony was questioned for two hours, during which he confirmed that MRI had received the money from the claimants but stated that the funds had been transferred to the furniture manufacturers, who never supplied the goods. Pickering, O’Callaghan and Shaw’s statements were all to the same effect. In support of this assertion their defence lawyers have presented a document - which to date has not been shown to either the judge or the lawyers for the prosecution - which apparently shows details of the bank transfers to the furniture providers. <strong>Administrator</strong> According to the lawyer <strong>Luis Fernando González Ordóñez</strong>, the Mac-Anthony property companies were effectively closed down without going into administration, with the only representative now being a 90 year old Spaniard, Fernando Arespacochaga Alcalá del Olmo, sole administrator of the Hispano-Peruvian company, Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana SAC. Arespacochaga was also in court on Wednesday and stated that he had never had any direct contact with the other accused, and that he is still in receipt of 600 euros a month paid to him by MacAnthony for his services. The group of clients who accuse MacAnthony of fraud are claiming in total more than half a million euros which they say they deposited with MRI for the purchase of furniture. Most of the transactions took place in Marbella, in the MacAnthony offices which were housed in the building previously used as his ‘Club Financiero’ headquarters by the late Mayor, Jesús Gil. The Marbella judge will now have to decide whether to proceed with the case.
      • post_titlePeterborough United boss back in MacAnthony territory to answer claims of fraud
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      • post_excerptMacAnthony executives claim that it was the furniture providers who pocketed the 600,000 euros.
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          • post_date2012-05-08 17:03:12
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      • post_date2012-04-26 18:30:33
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-26 17:30:33
      • post_contentFOOTBALL boss Darragh MacAnthony faced a court grilling over claims his company swindled holiday home owners out of hundreds of thousands of euros. The Dublin-born entrepreneur was quizzed for nearly two hours by a Spanish judge about his property empire and a furniture sales sideline. Mr MacAnthony, once estimated to be worth €180m, was chaffeur-driven to the court in upmarket Marbella to answer allegations of "misappropriation of funds and theft by swindle." Dozens of ex-customers sparked the probe after complaining nearly €500,000 worth of furniture, ordered more than five years ago from his company for apartments in Morocco, Bulgaria and Cape Verde, was never delivered. The Peterborough United chairman declined to comment as he left after the hearing behind closed doors and was driven away to the luxury hotel where he is staying in a €2,650-a-night private villa. Four other business associates linked to his property firm MacAnthony Realty International were also questioned. Investigating judge Beatriz Gomez-Escolar is probing allegations MacAnthony and his business associates misappropriated around €550,000 from 56 customers and stripped MRI of its assets before a de facto closing as part of an elaborate fraud involving the use of an OAP frontman. The investigation into MRI's business practices launched in January after a group of 51 buyers ratified an earlier claim that €492,000 of furniture they ordered for holiday homes was never delivered. Five more people have since come forward to claim they were victims as well. MRI has consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing. Mr MacAnthony, who has not been charged with any crime, has said in the past: "There are no foundations behind these allegations. I certainly didn't do anything wrong and neither did anyone with MRI when I was there."
      • post_titleCourt quiz for soccer boss in fraud probe
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      • post_date2012-04-26 12:46:57
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-26 11:46:57
      • post_contentEl empresario irlandés Darragh MacAnthony, dueño de una inmobiliaria bautizada con su apellido, ha sido imputado por el juzgado número 4 de <a href="http://elpais.com/tag/marbella/a/">Marbella</a> (Málaga) por estafa y apropiación indebida. 40 de sus clientes de la oficina que tenía abierta en Marbella, y que ocupaba la sede del famoso Club Financiero, le acusan de quedarse con 600.000 euros que le adelantaron para unos muebles que nunca recibieron. MacAnthony alegó el miércoles en los juzgados que no se apropió de ese dinero y que fue la empresa intermediaria quien falló en el negocio, según el abogado de los querellantes. El empresario, conocido en Inglaterra por ser el dueño del equipo de fútbol Peterbouroug, es una de las seis personas contra la que se han querellado los clientes de la inmobiliaria. Cinco de los implicados ya han declarado ante la juez Beatriz Fernández. Según los abogados, los querellados reconocen haber recibido el dinero, pero también aseguran que se lo transfirieron a la empresa proveedora de los muebles. “Se comprometieron con la juez a entregar la documentación que lo acredita”, explicó el letrado Luis González. Los abogados recelan de que el empresario defienda que no cobró “ninguna comisión” por intermediar en la venta de los muebles, ya que alega que transfirió el 100% del dinero. Los afectados de la supuesta <a href="http://elpais.com/tag/estafas/a/">estafa</a>, todos británicos e irlandeses, entregaron entre 10.000 y 15.000 euros para unos muebles que pensaban instalar en las viviendas que la inmobiliaria comercializaba en países como Turquía, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde o Italia. Firmaron sus contratos entre 2005 y 2010, año en el que la empresa cerró su sede en Marbella. Los querellantes denuncian que han dejado sin bienes a la sociedad y se ha orquestado un traslado a una “oficina fantasma” de Madrid, que supuestamente administra un hombre de 90 años con domicilio en Perú y sin ninguna actividad conocida.
      • post_titleImputado por estafa el dueño de una inmobiliaria marbellí
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      • post_excerptMacAnthony alega que no se quedó los 600.000 euros que le reclaman.
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      • post_date2012-04-25 23:25:53
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      • post_contentHoliday property mogul Darragh MacAnthony appeared in a Spanish court yesterday to answer charges that he never delivered furniture packs worth £400,000 to 51 customers. The 36-year-old Irish multi-millionaire and chairman of Peterborough United was summonsed by the Marbella criminal court after the customers filed a complaint against him and his company, MacAnthony Realty International. Lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> said the company had acted "in a disgraceful manner", adding: "They never filed for insolvency in Spain. They simply disappeared." Records show that the former holiday home giant moved its registered premises to a ghost office in Madrid where it was placed under the management of a non-trading Peruvian company run by a 90-year-old man. MacAnthony denies the accusations and has blamed the credit crunch, which forced several of MRI's furniture suppliers to fold, and has called the legal action as a "ridiculous suit". The Spanish judge will decide whether MacAnthony and the five other defendants should face the charges of "misappropriation of funds and theft by swindle".
      • post_titleDarragh MacAnthony in court over MRI claims
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      • post_date2012-04-25 22:51:31
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-25 21:51:31
      • post_content<img style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="Peterborough United boss faces fraud charges in Spain" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MacAnthony-on-court-steps.jpg" alt="Peterborough United boss faces fraud charges in Spain" width="300" height="199" align="right" border="0" /> The Irish football mogul was grilled by the judge in Marbella for two hours behind closed doors. Arriving in a white Range Rover with two men, it is the first time the football boss has faced the music in Spain. He was joined by his former chief executive Dominic Pickering, Sarah O’Callaghan, and Nicola Shaw, a former director of MRI Ireland. Meanwhile, 90-year-old Fernando Arespacochaga, whose Peruvian company Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana SAC took over MRI Overseas Property Group in 2010, also travelled over for the hearing. None of the accused, who have continually denied the allegations, would speak with reporters. <img class="alignleft" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="Unhappy Macanthony going towards Range Rover" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Unhappy-Macanthony-going-towards-Range-Rover-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> “I’m sure you are a lovely lady but I am not speaking to you,” said MacAnthony. It comes three months after over 40 victims travelled to Marbella to tell a judge how the football boss’ company MacAnthony Realty International (MRI) failed to deliver over half a million euros of furniture to them between 2005 and 2010. MRI – which boasted an annual turnover of more than 100m euros before the crisis – developed resorts in several countries from its main base in Marbella, from where it sold the furniture packs. The alleged victims – who filed a claim in Madrid in June last year – accuse MacAnthony, 35, of keeping 600,000 euros which they collectively paid for furniture packages for homes in Bulgaria, Turkey, and Morocco. Meanwhile, <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, the Spanish lawyer acting for the group, claims ‘many other’ customers are also affected and due to file further claims. “The missing furniture is just one of the irregularities linked to the company,” he said. Flores insisted an additional claim, totalling 15m euros, is being prepared on behalf of up to 200 British and Irish MRI customers claiming they lost large sums in upfront fees. “Today was just the first step. The courts were gathering information and just listening to what everyone has to say before they decide how to proceed further,” said Flores.<img class="alignright" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="MacAnthony exits court" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MacAnthony-exits-court-290x300.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="300" /> “There is also another claim that will be made in the not too distant future that is substantial.”
      • post_titlePeterborough United boss faces fraud charges in Spain
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptPETERBOROUGH United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has appeared in a Spanish court accused of fraud.
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:01:33
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          • post_titlePeterborough United boss faces fraud charges in Spain
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      • post_date2012-04-25 18:31:33
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-25 17:31:33
      • post_content<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-863" title="2012-04-Macanthnoy-in-court" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2012-04-Macanthnoy-in-court1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="232" /> El conocido exdirectvo inmobiliario Darragh Macanthony ha regresado hoy a Marbella para declarar ante el titular del Juzgado de Instrucción número 4 tras la denuncia por estafa y apropiación indebida presentada por medio centenar de ciudadanos extranjeros. Los afectados, británicos e irlandeses, ratificaron hace un mes una querella en los juzgados de Marbella. En su día confiaron a esta empresa la compra de mobiliario para viviendas ubicadas en diversas partes del mundo como Turquía, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Italia, Francia y Marruecos, donde la inmobiliaria tenía presencia. <div>Junto a Macanthony, hoy deben comparecer otros directivos como Dominic Pickering, Michael John Liggan, Sarah Ocallaghan, Nicola Victoria Shaw, y Fernando Arespacochaga Alcalá del Olmo.</div> <div>El primero en declarar ha sido Darrah Macanthoy, que llegaba a los juzgados minutos después de las diez de la mañana, y donde ha permanecido hasta pasadas las doce. A su salida no ha querido harcer declaraciones.</div> <div>Los querellantes acusan a los exdirectivos de la empresa de quedarse con entre 500.000 y 600.000 euros de las cantidades que dieron a cuenta. La mayor parte de estas transacciones se llevó acabo en la sede que Macanthony estableció en Marbella, en concreto, en las instalaciones que el alcalde Jesús Gil utilizó en su día como Club Financiero.</div> <div>Según figura en la providencia del juzgado, a la que tuvo acceso este periodico, se deciden praticar nuevas diligencias "visto el estado en que se mantenen las presentes actuaciones y resultando las mismas insuficientes para la determinación y circunstancias del hecho, las personas que en él hayan participado y el órgano competente para el enjuiciamiento".</div> <div>En su querella, los denunciantes aseguran que los responsables de la inmobiliaria han dejado sin bienes a la sociedad y han cambiado su domicilio social a una "oficina fantasma" en Madrid de la que figura como administrador un hombre de 90 años sin actividad conocida.</div> <div>Darragh Macanthotny es actualmente propietario de un club de fútbol de la Primera División Inglesa, el Peterborough United.</div> <div> <ul> <li>26-04-2021: <a title="Exdirectivos inmobiliarios niegan que se quedaran con dinero de sus clientes" href="http://www.diariosur.es/v/20120426/marbella/exdirectivos-inmobiliarios-niegan-quedaran-20120426.html" target="_blank">Exdirectivos inmobiliarios niegan que se quedaran con dinero de sus clientes</a></li> </ul> </div>
      • post_titleDeclaran en Marbella seis exdirectivos de una inmobiliaria tras una denuncia por estafa
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      • post_excerptMedio centenar de extranjeros acusan a los responsables de MacAnthony de quedarse con 500.000 euros entregados para muebles
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          • post_date2012-04-26 18:37:54
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          • post_title2012-04-Macanthnoy-in-court
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      • post_date2012-04-25 08:46:13
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      • post_contentDaragh MacAnthony y otros ex directivos de la inmobiliaria MacAnthony Realty International han sido citados a declarar por la jueza del caso Muebles, a fin de tomarles declaración en la querella por estafa y apropiación indebida por la que se les investiga. Se les acusa de haberse apropiado de 600.000 euros pertenecientes a unos 40 denunciantes. Daragh MacAnthony es un personaje público en el Reino Unido -actualmente es propietario del Peterborough, un club de fútbol de la Primera División inglesa, equivalente a la Segunda División en España- por lo que frecuentemente atrae la atención de la prensa de este país. Los 40 denunciantes tuvieron que ratificar personalmente hace ahora tres meses ante este mismo juzgado, a petición de la jueza de Instrucción Beatriz Fernández Gómez-Escolar, los hechos que denuncian, una actuación que fue que fue ampliamente difundida en el país británico. Los hechos por los que se les investiga se remontan al periodo 2005-2010. Cada reclamante había entregado un importe de en torno a 10.000-15.000 euros para la adquisición de muebles para las viviendas que adquirían del propio MacAnthony en diversas partes del mundo (Turquía, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Italia, Francia y Marruecos) donde su empresa tenía presencia. A los clientes se les obligaba a firmar un contrato de adquisición de mobiliario, muebles que supuestamente luego MacAnthony adquiriría principalmente de empresas en Bulgaria y Turquía, pero que en muchos casos nunca llegó a entregar.
      • post_titleUn conocido empresario británico, citado en Marbella por una presunta estafa
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptDaragh MacAnthony tenía una inmobiliaria en Marbella que cobró por inmuebles no entregados
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      • post_date2012-04-25 08:44:22
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      • post_contentEl juzgado de Instrucción número 4 de Marbella ha citado a declarar hoy al propietario de la antigua inmobiliaria con sede en la ciudad MacAnthony Realty International. Su dueño, el empresario Darragh MacAnthony, está acusado por 40 querellantes de ser presunto autor de los delitos de estafa y apropiación indebida. Los denunciantes, británicos e irlandeses, acusan a MacAnthony de haberse apropiado de unos 600.000 euros. Es la cantidad que entregaron para adquirir unos muebles que «nunca recibieron», indicaron sus representantes legales, el despacho de abogados marbellí Lawbird. Los hechos se remontan al período comprendido entre 2005 y 2010. Cada reclamante invirtió una media de 15.000 euros para comprar muebles para las viviendas que les vendió la misma inmobiliaria en distintas partes del mundo. Es el caso de Turquía, Bulgaria o Cabo Verde, entre otras ubicaciones. «La empresa ha efectuado un cierre de hecho consistente en el vaciado de la sociedad y de sus activos sin solicitar concurso, lo que podría devenir en un delito societario», indicó el letrado <strong>Luis González.</strong> <ul> <li><a title="MacAnthony se desvincula de la estafa en Marbella" href="http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/marbella/2012/04/26/macanthony-desvincula-estafa-marbella/502214.html" target="_blank">MacAnthony se desvincula de la estafa en Marbella</a> (26-04-2012)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleCitan a declarar al dueño de una inmobiliaria marbellí por presunta estafa
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      • post_date2012-04-13 19:18:32
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      • post_contentJean Hilary Leftwich has not yet got used to the idea that other people are enjoying the house that she lived in for almost 25 years in Alhaurín de la Torre. This 67 year old British resident is one of more than 400 people affected in the province of Malaga by an alleged fraud committed by foreign banks. As a result she has been forced to rent out her home and sell an apartment in Marbella at a loss to pay off a debt that threatened to leave her homeless. On Monday she joined another thirty or so foreigners resident on the Costa del Sol, most of themBritish, in a peaceful protest outside the Malaga tax office organised by the Equity Release Victims Association (ERVA). The aim of the gathering was to deliver a writ to the Spanish tax authorities to formally denounce that at least ten banks, mainlyDanish, had turned them into accomplices in a tax fraud involving equity release and the investment of large sums of money in tax havens such as Luxembourg and the Channel Islands. According to the victims, and to lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> who represents some members of the group, between 2004 and 2009 the banks they now accuse of fraud convinced them, through advertisements in the press, leaflets and phone calls, to take out a kind of reverse mortgage on their homes so that their heirs would not face paying inheritance tax that could amount to as much as 80 per cent of the value of property if this is free of all liens. They were also promised attractive returns through the investment of much of the loan in funds that were allegedly risk free. The offer was attractive to pensioners whose assets were all tied up in their property and who required cash to top up their income. “I wanted some money to travel to England to visit my grandchildren”, explains Jean Hilary Leftwich, who ended up having to sell her apartment in Marbella to pay off her 385,000 euro debt with the bank. Sixty five year old Toni Minta fears losing his home in Estepona, for which he paid 600,000 euros ten years ago. He took out a loan for 1,250,000 euros which went to a tax haven. Now the ups and downs of the economy have reduced this sum to 500,000 euros yet his original debt with the bank remains intact. ERVA Chairman Euan Armstrong describes the protest as a success. “Now that we have informed the Spanish tax authority of the possible loss of revenue by the removal from Spain of all the money taken from our members which has been deposited in Luxembourg (a tax free state) in order to evade Inheritance Tax, then we would expect them to ask the guilty banks to declare how many clients have died since buying these investment plans therefore evading Inheritance Tax. “We are confident of some sort of result after this. The Spanish Tax Authority cannot ignore this and neither can the banks involved in the scam”, he points out. Earlier this year the ‘Audiencia Nacional’ court rejected the case. <strong>Downloads</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20120413-Sur-in-English-Equity-Release.pdf">2012-04-13-Sur-in-English-Equity-Release</a> (PDF ~1.2 Mb)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleI needed some money to visit my grandchildren and now I’ve lost my house
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      • post_excerptForeign residents protest outside the tax office to draw attention to equity release fraud.
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      • post_date2012-04-11 16:19:00
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      • post_content<img class="alignright" style="margin: 20px; border: 1px solid black;" title="Los manifestantes expusieron ayer sus pancartas ante la sede de la Agencia Tributaria. " src="http://fotos00.laopiniondemalaga.es/fotos/noticias/318x200/2012-04-09_IMG_2012-04-09_23:27:25_hacienda.jpg" alt="Los manifestantes expusieron ayer sus pancartas ante la sede de la Agencia Tributaria. " width="318" height="151" align="right" border="0" />Unos 30 jubilados extranjeros, en su mayoría británicos, se concentraron ayer ante la Delegación de Hacienda en Málaga. Denuncian ser víctimas de un fraude inmobiliario por el que temen perder sus viviendas situadas en la Costa del Sol, principalmente en Marbella, donde residen. Los supuestos estafados presentaron un documento para informar a la Agencia Tributaria de su situación pero, sobre todo, para aclarar que no son cómplices. Acusan como presuntos autores de la estafa a una decena de bancos internacionales, muchos de ellos escandinavos, que operaron en España transitoriamente entre 2004 y 2009. <strong>Querella</strong>. En noviembre de 2011, los afectados, constituidos en asociación de víctimas, interpusieron una querella ante la Audiencia Nacional por esta causa. El Alto Tribunal la desestimó al entender que no se había aportado «el mínimo argumento indiciario» y que el juzgado «carece de competencia para investigar los hechos denunciados». El despacho de abogados que les representa, <strong>Lawbird</strong>, lamentó la decisión del tribunal español y la comparó con el Gobierno de Dinamarca, donde tienen sede alguno de los bancos denunciados, que ha ordenado investigar los hechos. Los manifestantes ayer portaban pancartas. «Danske Bank: defraudadores de impuestos españoles pero no conmigo», advertían. Danske Bank es una de las entidades bancarias que, según los querellantes, le ofreció un préstamo hipotecario sobre sus propios inmuebles, limpios de cargas económicas. Los denunciantes aseguran que los bancos les engañaron al convencerles de que la Agencia Tributaria les cobraría unos elevados impuestos a sus descendientes para poder heredar sus bienes en España. Con esta fórmula no sólo lo evitaban sino que se garantizaban una renta vitalicia. A cambio, tenían que autorizar a los bancos a invertir los fondos obtenidos en productos financieros supuestamente «libres de riesgo», explicó <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, titular del despacho, con sede en Marbella. «La trama les estaba invitando a defraudar a Hacienda», indicó. Según los cálculos del letrado, el número de presuntas víctimas de esta estafa puede rondar las 800 y las cantidades defraudadas superan los 250 millones de euros. Entre 50 y 75 millones de euros del impuesto de sucesiones.
      • post_titleUna treintena de ingleses estafados en Marbella se concentra ante Hacienda
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptDenuncian ser víctimas de un fraude inmobiliario que podría hacerles perder sus viviendas en la Costa del Sol, donde residen en la actualidad
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:06:03
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          • post_titleLos manifestantes expusieron ayer sus pancartas ante la sede de la Agencia Tributaria.
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      • post_date2012-04-11 10:18:58
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      • post_content<span>A Money Mail probe has uncovered how thousands of expats have lost their homes and life savings at the hands of rogue financial advisers. </span> <span>Most victims are pensioners who were conned into gambling on high-risk investments. </span> <span>Ruth Lythe reports on how those hoping to  find a life in the sun had their world torn apart.</span>   <div><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/04/10/article-0-128936A8000005DC-141_468x286.jpg" alt="Julia Hilling fears losing her Spanish home" width="468" height="286" />Threat: Former actress Julia Hilling fears losing her home in the Spanish sun</div> <span>Thousands of British expats are on the brink of losing everything after being duped by unscrupulous financial advisers. </span> <span>The cowboys have persuaded thousands of  our vulnerable pensioners — many in their 80s and 90s — to give up huge stakes of their property in exchange for investments that will never make a penny. </span><span> </span> <span>The schemes are often sold by rogue financial advisers who exploit weak consumer laws on  the Continent by falsely claiming to be bona  fide accountants.</span> <span>Most of the victims are Britons who retired to Spain or France and wanted to use the cash in their homes to help with soaring living costs. </span> <span>John Parsons, founder of the Costa del Sol Action Group that is helping some of the victims in Spain, says: ‘The effect of all this worry is enormous. The stress has brought on a lot of serious health issues and they are extremely worried about their futures. </span> <span>‘These people were not greedy or stupid. They were on fixed pensions and being financially squeezed, so jumped at the possibility of solving that situation.’</span> <span>The latest crisis follows a Money Mail  investigation in 2008, which exposed how hundreds of British pensioners living on the Costa del Sol had gambled their homes in a risky equity-release scheme run by failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki. </span> <span>Now we can reveal how thousands more pensioners have fallen for other risky equity-release schemes on the Continent and are being hounded by banks demanding hundreds of thousands of pounds.</span>   <span>PREYED ON BY  ROGUE SALESMEN</span> <span>During the property boom at the start of this century, around 100,000 pensioners left Britain to live out their days in southern France and Spain — attracted by a warmer climate and cheaper way of life. </span> <span>Many had a small pension, but hundreds of thousands of pounds from the sale of their UK home, which had soared in value over their lifetime. </span> <span>This money was used to supplement their incomes and buy a new home abroad. But soon after they moved, the cost of living in some areas soared as hundreds of thousands of Britons and Germans bought second homes. </span> <span>Many pensioners found they needed extra cash, and became easy prey for unregulated financial advisers who had left Britain to tap into the new wealth in these regions. </span> <span>Local rules meant they were able to act unchecked, selling investments from banks based anywhere in the world. </span> <span>Sometimes they claimed to be chartered accountants, but were not — many had never even registered with local authorities. </span> <span>In Spain in particular, these advisers could largely sell whatever they wanted — including types of investments and equity-release schemes outlawed in the UK. These paid handsome commissions that could net advisers a £50,000 payday. </span> <span>Banks offering equity-release loans included Icelandic bank Landsbanki, Scandinavian banks Nordea and Sydbank, and UK private bank Rothschild. However, Money Mail understands they are not the only banks involved. </span> <span>The majority of victims were told they could borrow the entire value of their property. The loan would incur interest, typically of up to 6.5?per cent. It meant that after ten years, a €500,000 (£412,667) loan would balloon to €681,240 (£562,251). To offset this, a large chunk — usually around 75?per cent of the loan — would be invested in a fund sold by the adviser. </span> <span>Pensioners were told returns would be so good that not only would they cover the interest on the equity release, but give the borrowers a little extra to spend. </span> <span>INVESTMENTS THAT TURNED TOXIC</span> <span>But the promises made turned out to be very different to the theory. This meant returns did not cover the cost of the interest repayments on the equity release. </span> <span>As the fund fell in value, it ate into the capital that borrowers needed to repay the debt. Charges for fund managers and commission also reduced the returns further. </span> <span>Worse was to follow when house prices in Spain fell. They had risen by 44?per cent between 2004 and 2008, when many of the victims had bought their homes. They have since plummeted by around 20?per cent. </span> <span>Those who had borrowed almost all of their property value were soon in negative equity — where the value of the property value was less than the money owed on it — leaving them unable to sell to clear their debt. </span> <span>In theory the borrowers were expected to pay off their loan at the end of four years. But because the value of the investments plunged so low, it triggered small print in the equity-release contract that allowed banks to demand repayment early. </span> <span>In the case of those expats with Landsbanki, the bank collapsed and the investment fund was snatched by company liquidators. Then a further problem struck — the value of the pound plunged against the euro. </span> <span>Many of the victims were paid pensions in pounds and relied on converting the money into euros every month. The drop meant the value of their pensions fell by a third. </span> <span>RETIREMENT DREAMS LEFT SHATTERED</span> <span>Campaigners estimate thousands of British pensioners have lost money through these schemes. Former actress Julia Hilling, 88, fears her home will be swallowed up in repayments to her mortgage from Rothschild Bank. </span> <span>She was sold the mortgage in 2005 by a Malaga-based British financial adviser. Today, this company is classed as unauthorised by the Spanish authorities. Her property was valued at €300,000 (£249,966) and she took out a loan for €262,000 (£217,827). Around €17,000 (£14,138) was used for living expenses and she put €245,000 (£203,693) in an investment fund. </span> <div><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/04/11/article-2127868-12893BED000005DC-235_233x423.jpg" alt="Tempted: Julia Hilling, pictured was an actress in the 1940s, says she went for a scheme because she needed to pay bills" width="233" height="423" />Tempted: Julia Hilling, pictured was an actress in the 1940s, says she went for a scheme because she needed to pay bills</div> <span>Mrs Hilling, who starred in musicals in the Forties and in revues with Sir Bruce Forsyth at the Windmill Theatre, London, had never invested or even had a mortgage before. </span> <span>Since 2005, the fund has plunged by around a third and will no longer cover her mortgage. She owes €330,000 (£274,362) and the debt continues to grow. Mrs Hilling says she is unable to cover these costs and fears the bank will take her property when she dies. </span> <span>‘I needed the money desperately to pay everyday bills while I was out here, as I didn’t want to rely on my family,’ she says. </span> <span>Rothschild told Money Mail it would not repossess Mrs Hilling’s home. It stressed it had not sold the investment to her and was not demanding repayment nor had it paid commission. It urged her to contact the bank. </span> <span>Another victim is Eric Mould, 64, who after a career in sales moved to a seaside villa in Puerto Banus, near Malaga, in 2007. He and his wife Mary, 60, sold their four-bedroom detached house in the UK to buy a three-bedroom villa with a swimming pool for €1,188,000 (£990,000). </span> <span>But five years later they are living in a friend’s flat in the town and battling to pay €2,100 (£1,745) a month in mortgage repayments to Danish bank Nykredit. </span> <span>Shortly after arriving in Spain, the couple borrowed €1?million against their villa with the bank. They say the British financial adviser who sold them the equity-release mortgage told them it would be a ‘win-win’ situation. </span> <span>They were told they could free up hundreds of thousands of pounds from the mortgage, and the fund would pay off the loan. They believed the investment they were sold separately through Danish bank Sydbank would leave a little extra to boost their pensions. </span> <span>To cover the mortgage, the Moulds have rented out their dream home. Their friend is letting them live rent-free in the apartment. The couple fear it is only a matter of time before their home is repossessed. And because property values have dropped, they could lose up to €300,000 (£249,966) </span> <span>‘This has totally devastated us. It is heart-breaking — we face losing the home we worked for a lifetime to buy,’  says Mr Mould. </span> <span>Sydbank would not comment on  the case. </span> <span>Others who took out equity-release schemes with collapsed Icelandic bank Landsbanki have been told it will settle — as long as they pay part of the money owed, in some cases hundreds of thousands of pounds. </span> <span>One couple, Linda and Frances Barlow, aged 63 and 75, who live in Nice in the south of France, believe the bank’s liquidators will repossess their home by May unless they stump up €1.3?million (£1.08?million). </span> <span>The liquidators proposed a compromise deal, but it would have required the couple to find €500,000, which they do not have. </span> <span>The Barlows took only a small proportion of the loan as cash. The rest was invested by the bank, and lost when it collapsed in 2008. </span> <span>‘We wanted some cash to renovate,’ says Mrs Barlow, a musician from London. ‘We didn’t want to take out a big loan, but the financial adviser told us we were foolish to be sitting on an asset and that we should get an equity release to have an income. Now we are going to lose everything.’</span> <div> <h3>Pensioners fight to keep their homes</h3> <div> <span>Scores of pensioners have launched legal action against the banks and financial advisers who sold them the loans. Solicitor <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, of Spanish law firm <strong>Law Bird</strong>, who is representing some of them, says: ‘Many people are left with huge bills and in fear of losing their homes.’ </span> <span>In February, the European Commission announced plans for an independent ombudsman to deal with mis-selling cases against financial advisers working in the Costa del Sol. </span> <span>Meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued official warnings about mortgage schemes advertised as a way of cutting tax bills. </span> <span>Any expats thinking of signing up to an equity-release scheme in Spain should check the company is registered with the agency in charge of the Spanish stock market, the Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV). </span> <span>It will also provide a list of companies that are not authorised to operate in Spain and those that have warnings issued against them. </span> <span>Remember to seek independent legal advice before signing a contract. </span> <span>If you believe you have been a victim of a fraud involving an equity-release scheme, then register a statement with the police. </span> <span>Seek independent legal advice about taking action through the courts. </span> <span>If you wish to complain about the performance of your investments, you should first complain to the equity-release company. </span> <span>After two months, if you are not happy with the response, take your complaint to the Spanish Investors’ Complaints Office: Oficina de Atención al Inversor, Miguel Ángel 11, 28010 Madrid. </span> <span>There is also an office at Paseo de Gràcia, 19, 4ª Planta, 08007 Barcelona.</span> </div> </div>
      • post_titleINVESTIGATION: Thousands of expats face ruin after being duped by bogus financial advisers
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  • 71(array)
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      • ID791
      • post_author1
      • post_date2012-04-11 10:13:31
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-11 09:13:31
      • post_content<strong><img class="alignright" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="OVER 30 MEMBERS OF THE EQUITY RELEASE VICTIMS ASSOCIATION DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE HACIENDA TO PROTEST AGAINST FOREIGN BANKS" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/victimes-of-equity-release-scam-protest-outside-hacienda-in-malaga.jpg" alt="" width="407" height="349" />OVER 30 foreign victims of equity release scams gathered outside of Hacienda in Malaga yesterday to protest over an alleged fraud that could see many of them losing their homes.</strong> The mainly British group, led by Euan Armstrong and Ian Sherdley who formed the Equity Release Victims Association, filed denuncias with the Agencia Tributaria against a number of mostly Scandinavian foreign banks. They now hope Hacienda will intervene after they highlighted Spain is losing a large amount in taxes due to fraudulent schemes where all the money is invested and lost in Luxembourg. “We already presented all this evidence to the Supreme Court of Spain in Madrid and they chose to ignore it so this way we are bringing their attention to the loss of tax to the Spanish coffers,” said Armstrong, 74. “It went very well. A good number turned out and each person filed a denuncia with Hacienda. “We are exposing the situation to the tax office that these banks are taking money from Spain and lodging it in Luxembourg. Spain stands to lose a lot of money. “I would like to think that Hacienda will now act.” The group, represented by<strong> Antonio Flores</strong> from the Marbella based firm <strong>Lawbird</strong>, demonstrated for over an hour carrying placards which attacked some of the banks they claim have tricked them. According to the group foreign banks convinced predominately retired foreigners to take out ‘predatory mortgages’ on their homes at a value way above the level of the official appraisal. Victims were lured in by the false hope they could reduce inheritance tax for their loved ones – who would eventually be liable to pay Spain’s top rate of 34 per cent – and enjoy a salary for life by investing in financial havens such as Luxembourg, supposedly without risk. But the scam – which could have as many as 600 victims and is estimated at a staggering 250 million euros – has left many of them penniless.
      • post_titleExpat victims of equity release scams protest in Malaga
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:06:05
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          • post_titleOVER 30 MEMBERS OF THE EQUITY RELEASE VICTIMS ASSOCIATION DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE HACIENDA TO PROTEST AGAINST FOREIGN BANKS
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  • 72(array)
    • Post(array)
      • ID818
      • post_author1
      • post_date2012-04-10 19:02:07
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-10 18:02:07
      • post_content<div><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-819" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="Una treintena de jubilados se concentraron cita ayer en la delegación de la Agencia Tributaria. :: M. A. G." src="http://www.diariosur.es/prensa/noticias/201204/10/fotos/12368966.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />Jean Hilary Leftwich todavía no se hace a la idea de que otras personas estén disfrutando de la casa en la que ha vivido durante casi 25 años en Alhaurín de la Torre. Esta inglesa de 67 años es una de las más de 400 personas afectadas en Málaga por una presunta estafa cometida por bancos extranjeros que le ha obligado a alquilar su vivienda y a malvender un apartamento en Marbella para hacer frente a una deuda que amenazaba con dejarla en la calle. Ayer, junto a otra treintena de jubilados residentes extranjeros en la Costa del Sol, en su mayoría británicos, se concentró a las puertas de la delegación de la Agencia Tributaria en la capital malagueña para mostrar su repulsa por lo que consideran un auténtico fraude.</div> <div>Así se lo hicieron saber también a responsables de Hacienda mediante la entrega de un escrito en el que denuncian que una decena de entidades financieras, principalmente danesas, les han convertido en cómplices de un fraude fiscal mediante la contratación de una especie de hipotecas inversas y la inversión de grandes cantidades de dinero en paraísos fiscales como Luxemburgo o Islas del Canal.</div> <div>Según el testimonio de los afectados y del abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, encargado de la defensa de algunos de ellos, entre los años 2004 y 2009 los bancos presuntamente implicados les convencieron, a través de anuncios en prensa, folletos y llamadas, de que hipotecaran sus viviendas para que sus herederos no tuvieran que hacer frente a un impuesto de sucesiones que podría alcanzar hasta el 80% del valor del inmueble en caso de que éste estuviera libre de cargas. Además, les prometieron una atractiva rentabilidad mediante la inversión de buena parte de este préstamo en fondos que supuestamente estaban exentos de riesgo. «Quería dinero para poder viajar a Inglaterra a visitar a mis nietos», cuenta Jean Hilary Leftwich, que finalmente tuvo que vender su apartamento de Marbella para saldar una deuda de 385.000 euros con la entidad.</div> <div>Su compatriota Toni Minta, de 65 años, ahora teme perder su vivienda en Estepona, que le costó 600.000 euros hace una década. Por ella recibió de un banco noruego 1.250.000 euros que viajaron a un paraíso fiscal y cuya cantidad se ha reducido hasta los 500.000 euros por los vaivenes de la economía, mientras su deuda con la entidad permanece casi intacta. Por el momento, la Audiencia Nacional ha rechazado investigar el caso.</div>
      • post_titleQuería dinero para visitar a mis nietos y he perdido mi casa
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptExtranjeros residentes en la Costa denuncian en Hacienda una presunta estafa cometida a través de hipotecas inversas
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          • post_date2012-04-13 19:04:14
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          • post_titleUna treintena de jubilados se concentraron cita ayer en la delegación de la Agencia Tributaria. :: M. A. G.
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  • 73(array)
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      • ID803
      • post_author1
      • post_date2012-04-10 16:09:49
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-10 15:09:49
      • post_contentLos afectados se concentraron ayer ante la Delegación de Hacienda a la que informaron de los hechos · Suscribieron préstamos ficticios para pagar menos impuestos. Una veintena de británicos supuestamente estafados por bancos extranjeros se concentraron ayer ante la Delegación de Hacienda. Los ancianos denunciaron que las entidades les convencieron para que suscribieran hipotecas inversas, un producto financiero por el cual les garantizaban que sus hijos pagarían menos Impuesto de Sucesiones y de Patrimonio a su fallecimiento. Pero ahora se topan con que sus casas -que ya tenían pagadas- están hipotecadas y que el dinero equivalente a la hipoteca suscrita que los bancos colocaron en inversiones en paraísos fiscales se ha volatizado. La supuesta trama de estafa comenzó en torno a 2004. Una decena de bancos con sede en Luxemburgo, Suiza, islas del Canal de la Mancha u otros paraísos fiscales hicieron una captación de <em>clientes</em> en la Costa del Sol a través de anuncios en prensa y con reuniones en hoteles. Buscaban extranjeros con viviendas sin hipoteca y sin mucha liquidez a los que les ofrecían la hipoteca inversa. Les convencían de que a su fallecimiento, a los hijos solo les quedaría una parte mínima de la herencia tras pagar los impuestos de Sucesiones y Patrimonio. La solución pasaba por suscribir una hipoteca inversa, una simulación fraudulenta para reducir el valor de la vivienda y que los descendientes pagaran menos tributos. Tras suscribir la hipoteca, los jubilados extranjeros, en su mayoría británicos, recibían de un 5 a un 10% de la cantidad supuestamente prestada. El resto se invertía en el extranjero. Según la oferta de los bancos, con los intereses podrían amortizar el préstamo e incluso disponer de algún dinero para sobrevivir. Los jubilados se concentraron ayer por la mañana ante la sede de Hacienda en la Avenida de Andalucía para denunciar su situación y que ese organismo investigue el supuesto fraude fiscal. Euan Amstrong, uno de los afectados, incluso ha interpuesto una denuncia penal en un Juzgado de Fuengirola por estafa y apropiación indebida contra la entidad crediticia con la que contrató el producto financiero. Amstrong, británico de 74 años, tenía una casa en Alhaurín el Grande que compró en 2002 por 1,5 millones de euros y que tenía pagada. El Danske Bank le concedió una hipoteca inversa de un millón para evitar impuestos. La mayor parte fue invertida por la entidad financiera en Luxemburgo. Ahora tiene una demanda de desahucio y corre el riesgo de perder su casa. El abogado de los afectados, Antonio Flores, estimó que en Málaga puede haber unos 400 extranjeros afectados por la hipoteca inversa. Los bancos que colocaron estos productos entre los extranjeros residentes en la Costa del Sol son Danske Bank, Nordea Bank, Lex Life & Pension, Landsbanki, Jyske Bank, Finansbanken, Sydbank, N M Rothschild & Sons y Swiss Life. Hay afectados por toda España Flores indicó que el Gobierno danés ya ha reconocido que se trata de "un engaño al fisco español".
      • post_titleJubilados británicos denuncian un fraude con hipotecas sobre sus casas
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      • post_date2012-04-09 16:34:23
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-09 15:34:23
      • post_contentUna treintena de jubilados extranjeros residentes en la Costa del Sol han denunciado hoy ante la Delegación de Hacienda haber sido<strong>víctimas de una estafa inmobiliaria</strong>. Estas personas ya denunciaron hace meses ante los tribunales a una decena de entidades bancarias extranjeras por lo que se ha venido a llamar “hipoteca inversa extranjera”. Según los denunciantes, estos bancos les atemorizaban diciéndoles que en España, cuando alguien muere sin tener hipotecada su vivienda, Hacienda grava a sus herederos con un impuesto de sucesión tan elevado que estos no tienen capacidad económica para pagarlo. Por eso,<strong> les ofrecían hipotecar sus inmuebles e invertir el dinero del préstamo en un paraíso fiscal</strong>, inversiones que, por otra parte, nunca han recibido. Antonio Flores, del despacho marbellí Lawbird, abogado de este grupo de jubilados, explica que estos bancos <em>"lo que hacían era ofrecerles un préstamo, invertir  y decirles que entre todos iban a ganar bastante dinero". "Lo que ha pasado es que el dinero se ha invertido en fondos que no han dado lo que tenían que dar y ahora lo que les piden es las casas, que si no pueden pagar el préstamo les entreguen sus viviendas",</em> dice el letrado. La mayoría de las viviendas de los afectados se ubican en municipios como Marbella, Torremolinos y Alhaurín de la Torre. <iframe src='http://www.cope.es/copea.php5?nomAudio=13339688781306569994.mp3&titulo=Antonio+Flores' width='425' height='65' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>
      • post_titleJubilados extranjeros denuncian ante Hacienda en Málaga ser víctimas de una estafa inmobiliaria
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptUn grupo de unos 30 jubilados extranjeros han denunciado hoy ante la Delegación de Hacienda en Málaga haber sido víctimas de una estafa inmobiliaria por parte de entidades bancarias de distintos países.
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      • post_date2012-04-09 16:25:58
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-09 15:25:58
      • post_contentDecenas de extranjeros jubilados afectados por la conocida como hipoteca inversa han interpuesto una denuncia ante la Delegación de Hacienda de Málaga para que se investigue un supuesto fraude, ya que la Costa del Sol concentra casi la mitad de los 800 casos existentes en <a title="España" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/espana/"><strong>España</strong></a>, según el abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>. La supuesta trama de estafa y fraude contra la Hacienda Pública habría sido iniciada en 2004 por diez bancos internacionales que desplegaron una "campaña de captación de recursos" en la Costa del Sol, indicó en su día a Efe el letrado del despacho marbellí <strong>Lawbird</strong>, que atiende al menos a 25 denunciantes por este caso. Dicha campaña se dirigía a extranjeros con viviendas sin hipoteca con "cierta capacidad económica" y "sin mucha liquidez", a los que se les ofertaba el producto conocido como "hipoteca inversa", un préstamo garantizado sobre vivienda habitual para mayores de 65 años o afectados de dependencia, ejecutable sólo tras el fallecimiento del prestatario. Se trataría de una simulación fraudulenta donde se firman hipotecas en viviendas ya pagadas o sin hipotecar para ceder a los clientes prestamos que son llevados a "paraísos fiscales" con la excusa de que, si fallecían, el coste de su casa sería tan alto a efectos de impuestos de sucesiones que sus hijos nunca podrían heredarlas. Flores ha explicado que para subsanar este problema, los bancos les ofrecían a estos pensionistas la posibilidad de tomar un préstamo con plazos de amortización "muy largos" sobre la vivienda para reducir su valor para que los descendientes pagaran "muchos menos impuestos" al morir éstos. Una vez firmados, los afectados "recibían entre el 5 y el 10 por ciento de la cantidad prestada y el resto se invertía en el extranjero" para que con los intereses se pudieran pagar los costes de dicho préstamo y "les quedara un poco de dinero para sobrevivir", según Flores. Ahora "han encontrado que tienen préstamos hipotecarios que no pueden pagar" porque pensaban que su banco respaldaba esa inversión y sin embargo ésta "se ha perdido" en<a title="Luxemburgo" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/europa/luxemburgo/L_yeRhTKLp2E01W591vUylX3/"><strong>Luxemburgo</strong></a>, en Suiza o en las islas del Canal de la Mancha. Tras averiguar por diferentes medios que este sistema de crear un préstamo hipotecario ficticio podía ser ilegal, estos pensionistas "están asustados", a juicio del letrado, porque "posiblemente hayan cometido un delito", y por ello "quieren denunciarlo". "Hay documentación suficiente para probar que se les invitaba abiertamente a contratar estos productos", ha asegurado Flores, quien ha señalado que corresponde a Hacienda investigar "si hay una especie de amnistía fiscal que no es tal". Lawbird presentó en noviembre de 2011 una querella, finalmente rechazada, ante la<a title="Audiencia Nacional" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/audiencia-nacional/O_8nrgm0xqLF5mv6ORJJPzf7/"><strong>Audiencia Nacional</strong></a> contra diez bancos internacionales entre los que se encuentran Danske Bank, Nordea Bank, Lex Life & Pension, <a title="Landsbanki" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/landsbanki/E_5cdY645iZJ0oz8fLo4Gt92/"><strong>Landsbanki</strong></a>, <a title="Jyske Bank" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/jyske-bank/E_XjJrjGXuikyGsqkx71CYZ5/"><strong>Jyske Bank</strong></a>, Finansbanken, Sydbank, N M Rothschild & Sons y Swiss Life. El presidente de la Asociación de Víctimas de la Hipoteca Inversa Extranjera, Euan Armstrong, un británico de 74 años, adquirió en 2002 una casa en el campo en <a title="Alhaurín el Grande" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/malaga/alhaurin-el-grande/L_GPcm7VNGeAzw5XkhKpMr91/"><strong>Alhaurín el Grande</strong></a> (Málaga) por un millón y medio de euros. Según ha relatado a los periodistas, su banco, Danske Bank, le prestó un millón de euros tras firmar esta hipoteca "para evitar impuestos" del cual una parte se invirtió en Luxemburgo; ahora el banco le reclama su casa, que mantiene alquilada, y él vive en un apartamento en Nueva Andalucía (<a title="Marbella" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/malaga/marbella/L_7ywdFZavlfxBpDvbpg87J5/"><strong>Marbella</strong></a>). <ul> <li><a title="Afectados por hipoteca inversa denuncian para que investiguen si hubo fraude" href="http://www.expansion.com/agencia/efe/2012/04/09/17137016.html" target="_blank">Expansion</a></li> <li><a title="Afectados por las hipotecas inversas piden que se investigue si hubo fraude" href="http://www.intereconomia.com/noticias-negocios/claves/afectados-por-hipotecas-inversas-piden-que-se-investigue-si-hubo-fraude-201" target="_blank">Intereconomía</a></li> <li><a title="Afectados por hipoteca inversa denuncian para que investiguen si hubo fraude" href="http://www.finanzas.com/noticias/bolsas/2012-04-09/698582_afectados-hipoteca-inversa-denuncian-para.html" target="_blank">Finanzas.com</a></li> </ul>    
      • post_titleAfectados por hipoteca inversa denuncian para que investiguen si hubo fraude
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptDecenas de extranjeros jubilados afectados por la conocida como hipoteca inversa han interpuesto una denuncia ante la Delegación de Hacienda de Málaga para que se investigue un supuesto fraude, ya que la Costa del Sol concentra casi la mitad de los 800 casos existentes en España, según el abogado Antonio Flores.
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      • post_date2012-04-09 10:27:38
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-09 09:27:38
      • post_contentJulia Hilling tiene ahora 89 años, sin embargo eso no impidió que un banco británico le colocase un préstamo hace apenas seis años sobre su apartamento de Fuengirola, por importe de 262.000 euros, con devolución prevista para 2016. La operación formaba parte de un acuerdo aparentemente ventajoso. Le prometían una renta vitalicia y que sus herederos iban a quedar exentos del impuesto de sucesiones cuando falleciera. Pero nadie regala duros a cuatro pesetas. A cambio, la anciana tenía que suscribir una hipoteca sobre su vivienda libre de cargas, y autorizar al banco a que invirtiera los fondos obtenidos en productos financieros supuestamente libres de riesgo. Como ella, otros tantos jubilados asentados en la Costa del Sol han sido víctimas de una presunta estafa orquestada por una docena de entidades extranjeras. Los ancianos, constituidos en la Asociación de Afectados de la Hipoteca Inversa, se harán hoy visibles con una concentración de protesta a las puertas de la Delegación de Hacienda de Málaga. Está previsto que alrededor de una treintena de jubilados británicos tomen parte en esta movilización, tras la que presentarán una denuncia formal en la institución contra las entidades bancarias. <strong>Escándalo</strong> «Con esta medida se pretende llamar la atención de las autoridades sobre un asunto que en muchos países europeos ya se considera un escándalo de grandes proporciones, lo que contrasta con la absoluta apatía judicial y desidia de los tribunales españoles, que hace unos meses rechazaron investigar el asunto», denuncian desde el despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella, que representa los intereses de una mayoría de afectados. El bufete pone de ejemplo lo sucedido en Dinamarca, donde, según concretan, se ha creado una gran alarma social tras la cobertura informativa realizada por el rotativo Jyllands Posten -conocido entre otras cosas por haber publicado las caricaturas del profeta Mahoma-. «El diario publicó que un elevado número de bancos daneses habrían participado en una trama de fraude fiscal en España, relacionado con el impuesto de sucesiones, y a la vez denunció la dramática situación económica a la que habían llevado a cientos de jubilados», subrayan desde Lawbird. De hecho, añaden que la situación a la que se han visto abocados estos ancianos es dramática, hasta el punto de que muchos están a punto de ser desahuciados de sus casas, después de que los bancos hayan perdido más de la mitad del capital en inversiones y hayan empezado a exigir el pago de las cuotas.
      • post_titleJubilados extranjeros denuncian ante el fisco una trama para estafarles sus ahorros
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptLa concentración por las llamadas hipotecas inversas tendrá lugar hoy en las puertas de la Delegación de Hacienda en Málaga
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      • post_date2012-04-04 16:54:42
      • post_date_gmt2012-04-04 15:54:42
      • post_contenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wW_hbTL2DA
      • post_titleEquity Release Gathering - Canal Sur Noticias Mediodia (04-04-2012)
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      • post_date2012-03-14 16:39:06
      • post_date_gmt2012-03-14 15:39:06
      • post_content<span>Hundreds of forgotten British victims of failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki are on the brink of losing their homes after a four-year legal battle. </span> <span>Some are retired expats living in Spain and are involved in a last-ditch court fight to stop their properties being repossessed by the liquidators of the bank, which collapsed in 2008. </span> <span>The pensioners owe thousands of pounds on an equity release scheme run by the Icelandic bank and sold through unscrupulous financial advisers.</span> <div></div> <div><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/13/article-2114618-1221748D000005DC-118_468x286.jpg" alt="Victims: Carolyn and Henry Bowen face a debt 'nightmare' " width="468" height="286" />Victims: Carolyn and Henry Bowen face a debt 'nightmare' </div> <span>Money Mail revealed the pensioners’ plight shortly after Landsbanki collapsed in 2008. The Luxembourg-based liquidators for the bank want this money to pay other creditors. But the pensioners, most of whom retired to the Costa del Sol, claim they were mis-sold and should not have to pay. </span> <span>Many are trapped in homes that have plunged in value, and have seen their dream retirement blighted by debts and expensive legal costs. Among them are Carolyn and Henry Bowen, both 63, who live in Benamargosa, near Malaga.</span>   <div></div> <div> <h4>More...</h4> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-2111400/Iceland-getting-millions-British-aid-year--refuses-repay-billions.html">Iceland is getting millions in British aid a year... even though it refuses to repay us for savers' billions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2113458/Landsbanki-expected-sell-House-Fraser-stake.html">Landsbanki expected to sell House of Fraser stake</a></li> </ul> </div>   <span>They signed up to the equity release investment in 2006 through a British financial adviser working in Marbella. They were told the scheme would allow them to cut their inheritance tax bill under Spanish law and help pay for Mrs Bowen’s treatment for breast cancer. </span> <span>They took £300,000 from their three-bedroom country villa, and invested £278,000 of that in a fund run by Landsbanki. But when Landsbanki collapsed, they were left unable to pay the 6.5?per cent interest on their equity release loan and the money in the fund was frozen. </span> <span>Since then, liquidators have been allowed to take £280,351 from the fund to pay off some of the borrowing, and have hiked the interest on the remaining debt, which has now spiralled to £175,236 due to interest and charges. </span> <span>The value of the couple’s property has plunged and is now worth £250,000. Mrs Bowen, a retired headteacher, says: ‘It seems like a nightmare that will never end, I wake up worrying in the night.</span> <span>‘If we have to give up our property, we will be left homeless. We have worked hard all our lives, it just doesn’t seem fair.’ </span> <h2><span>Banned in the UK but sold to Britons abroad </span></h2> <span>The Landsbanki scheme allowed pensioners to borrow 100?per cent of the value of their homes. They could take up to three-quarters of the money as a loan and invest the rest in a fund. They were told the return on the investment would pay off the interest on the borrowing and provide an income for life. And, unlike with normal equity release plans, interest had to be paid every month. </span> <span>These schemes, banned in the Britain since 1990, were flogged by unscrupulous advisers who targeted Britons living in the Costas. But when Landsbanki collapsed at the height of the credit crunch, the investment return plunged, leaving the pensioners with huge interest bills they could not repay. </span> <span>These pensioners were not the only victims of the collapse of Landsbanki — 300,000 people who saved with its UK subsidiary Icesave had their money handed back to them through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Icelandic government still owes the UK £3.4billion for this bailout.</span> <span>The Bowens argue they should never have been sold equity release in the first place. In a hearing last year, Spanish judges found in their favour. </span> <span>Landsbanki’s liquidators and the financial adviser were told to remove the mortgage and pay them £23,000, but the liquidator is appealing against the judgment and is dragging them through the courts.</span> <span>If they lose, the Bowens will have to fork out hundreds of thousands of pounds and see their pensions swallowed up in huge legal fees. If they win, however, it could mean the estimated 300 other pensioners in the Landbanski schemes no longer have to pay up. </span> <span><strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a Spanish lawyer who has represented a number of British Landsbanki victims as well as those in equity release schemes, says: ‘Landsbanki’s liquidators have to show their creditors they are doing everything in their power to claw this money back. They don’t see these mortgages belong to real people, it’s just money owing to Landsbanki in Spain.’</span> <span>The European Commission is considering launching an ombudsman to help expats such as the Bowe</span><span>ns, who feel exploited by unregistered firms. </span> <span>Money Mail understands Landsbanki’s liquidators have since offered a settlement to some equity release fund victims. But they may still have to pay tens of thousands of pounds and they will not receive any compensation for mis-selling.</span>  
      • post_titleExpats in Spain fight for homes after losing life savings to Icelandic bank's equity release scheme
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      • post_date2012-02-06 15:42:42
      • post_date_gmt2012-02-06 14:42:42
      • post_contentA subpoena is set to be served for Colin Thomas, of Town Hill, to appear in Madrid as a class action lawsuit against Spanish developer Ricardo Miranda Miret continues to rumble on in an effort to recover money on behalf of dozens of Ocean View Properties (OVP) victims. The criminal claim for fraud and misappropriation of funds was lodged in a Madrid court last year and included Mr Thomas and other directors of his firm. The prosecuting lawyer is seeking more than £6.5 million in damages for 70 claimants. The firm took deposits worth around £80,000 each from British investors, but much of the cash disappeared as the homes failed to materialise, it is alleged. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, the Spanish prosecuting lawyer from Marbella-based firm <strong>Lawbird</strong>, said: “We have requested that Colin Thomas specifically is summoned and quizzed. “I don’t believe OVP knew anything about what was going on but they will be forced to talk in court. “This was a scam of huge proportions. It has the potential of becoming one of the biggest property scams, as none of the developments will be built.” Mr Thomas’s company was behind a number of successful enterprises but ran into difficulties when it became involved as an agent for Spanish developer Ricardo Miranda Miret. More than a thousand British investors who paid £45 million for off-plan overseas property developments have lost their money after the firm was formally dissolved in 2009 with the appointment of liquidators Grant Thornton. The Madrid court claims are linked with developments that never materialised at the Estepona Country Club on the Costa del Sol and Punta Perla, in the Dominican Republic. This comes after the Mail revealed that The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Staffordshire Police would take ‘no further action’ following the collapse of OVP. Last year, the Mail also revealed that 50- year-old Mr Thomas was banned from being a company director for nine years after an Insolvency Service investigation revealed that he had pocketed almost £14 million despite the firm being insolvent. The findings also showed that his firm took £23 million from customers for a Spanish development that it did not own, did not have a building licence for and never undertook any construction work on. Despite efforts by the Mail, neither Mr Thomas nor his advisors were unavailable for comment.
      • post_titleProperty tycoon ordered before Spanish courts
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptA YOXALL businessman looks set to be called to appear before courts in Spain over an alleged multi-million pound overseas property scam.
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      • post_date2012-02-01 10:21:07
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      • post_content[caption id="attachment_659" align="alignright" width="225" caption="THE AUDIENCIA NACIONAL WILL NOT BE INVESTIGATING THE SCAM THAT LEFT SCORES OF EXPATS AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES"]<img class="size-full wp-image-659 " title="audiencia-nacional-not-enough-evidence-property-danish-banks" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/audiencia-nacional-not-enough-evidence-property-danish-banks.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="225" />[/caption] The Audiencia Nacional insists there is not enough evidence to merit launching a criminal investigation despite the group of 20 foreign residents filing over 200 pages of documents against several Scandinavian banks. “This is a clear case of judicial apathy by the Court which, after probably not reading the claim, considered it nevertheless irrelevant in what is a steadily worsening record of protecting rights of consumers,” said Antonio Flores from Marbella law firm Lawbird who is representing the Malaga victims. But offering a ray of hope to the hundreds of expats affected, the Danish government on the other hand has now decided to open an investigation into the scam. “It does not sound very good if a Danish bank is involved in such a concept. It will be included in our priorities” insisted Johnny Hansen Schaadt, director of The Danish Tax Office Special Department of Economic Crime.
      • post_titleSpanish court will not investigate equity release scam
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptTHE Spanish national court has announced it will not be investigating the equity release scam that has left scores of expats on the Costa del Sol facing losing their homes.
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          • post_date2012-02-01 10:19:31
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          • post_content
          • post_titleaudiencia-nacional-not-enough-evidence-property-danish-banks
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          • post_excerptTHE AUDIENCIA NACIONAL WILL NOT BE INVESTIGATING THE SCAM THAT LEFT SCORES OF EXPATS AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES
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      • post_date2012-01-26 20:12:28
      • post_date_gmt2012-01-26 19:12:28
      • post_contentMarbella (Málaga), 25 ene.- Un total de 35 personas han ratificado hoy en el juzgado de Instrucción número 4 de Marbella (Málaga) la querella interpuesta contra la inmobiliaria MacAnthony por presenta estafa y apropiación indebida. Los afectados, en su mayoría procedentes de <a title="Irlanda" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/europa/irlanda/L_JZZhibPNnXCgBsCe8MCh42/"><strong>Irlanda</strong></a> y <a title="Reino Unido" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/europa/reino-unido/L_SbIMxvgSm4eMevpMPwfPA7/"><strong>Reino Unido</strong></a>, han acudido a las puertas del juzgado a manifestarse y a ratificar la querella que interpusieron el pasado junio por la compra de unos muebles, que nunca llegaron, para las viviendas que adquirieron a la compañía querellada. El abogado que lleva el caso, Luis González Ordóñez, ha explicado que la presunta estafa consiste en que "el grupo MacAnthony se ha apropiado de unos 500.000 euros a través de la ficción de que el dinero que se recibía era al objeto de poder comprar unos muebles en las viviendas que estaban comprando ellos en terceros países" y que "jamás llegaron a recibir". Por otro lado, el abogado ha asegurado que "la empresa ha desaparecido de forma irregular, sin llevar a cabo ninguna liquidación ordinaria, ningún concurso ni forma normal de desaparición", el administrador tampoco quiere saber nada, y la empresa que tenía en<a title="Madrid" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/comunidad_de_madrid/madrid/L_qbNROgFqk1JqUcBPYUIb85/"><strong>Madrid</strong></a> y en Marbella ya no está, y nadie atiende a las llamadas ni a los correos electrónicos. "No estamos hablando sólo de un dinero que ha desaparecido", ha precisado el jurista, "sino de una fórmula tendente a engañar para la apropiación y quedarse con el dinero a través de un complejo societario, que es el grupo MacAnthony", ha asegurado. La empresa MacAnthony Realty Internacional SL estaba participada en un noventa por ciento por una empresa <a title="peruana" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/america/peru/L_2pFmacKSSjGqh1u2lTfOI1/"><strong>peruana</strong></a>, cuyo administrador es un testaferro de 90 años con domicilio en Perú, y que a su vez apoderaba a terceras personas, que son los administradores de facto, ha explicado González. El letrado ha indicado que a los 35 afectados que representa se les ha estafado en torno a medio millón de euros, y a cada individuo entre 10.000 y 30.000 euros para bienes muebles. Se les acusa por los delitos de estafa y apropiación indebida en tanto en cuanto "se presentaban como mediadores para la trasmisión de unos muebles que estos señores jamás han visto, con el agravante de que tienen que venir a <a title="España" href="http://noticias.lainformacion.com/espana/"><strong>España</strong></a> y tienen que presentar una querella aquí", ha señalado.
      • post_titleRatifican la querella por estafa a la inmobiliaria MacAnthony en Marbella
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:06
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      • post_date2012-01-26 20:08:26
      • post_date_gmt2012-01-26 19:08:26
      • post_content<div id="noticia_texto"> [caption id="attachment_654" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Los presuntos estafados, en los juzgados marbellíes. P.S."]<a href="http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/servicios/lupa/lupa.jsp?pIdFoto=2415233&pRef=2012012600_28_480176__Marbella-treintena-britanicos-estafados-protesta-Marbella"><img class="size-full wp-image-654" src="http://fotos00.laopiniondemalaga.es/fotos/noticias/646x260/2012-01-26_IMG_2012-01-26_00:32:47_juzgados.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="176" /></a>[/caption] Más de 30 británicos se concentraron ayer en los juzgados de instrucción de Marbella, ubicados en la avenida Mayorazgo. Portaban carteles en los que preguntaban dónde está su dinero y dónde están sus muebles, en señal de protesta. Se declaran afectados por un engaño masivo que les hizo perder un total de 500.000 euros, un dinero que estaba destinado para comprar unos enseres para sus viviendas que nunca llegaron a tener. Ayer, acudieron a ratificar su querella en contra de la empresa MacAnthony Realty Internacional, la entidad a la que acusan de estafa y apropiación indebida; una empresa con sede en Marbella pero que desapareció «de forma irregular», explicó el abogado que representa a 35 presuntos estafados, Luis González. «No han llevado a cabo ninguna liquidación ordinaria ni concurso ni ninguna forma normal de desaparición», indicó el letrado. Para González, se trataba de un complejo societario «tendente a engañar para quedarse con el dinero». La empresa del principal acusado, Darragh MacAnthony, estaba participada por una sociedad radicada en Perú y cuyo administrador es una persona de 90 años con domicilio en este país sudamericano, añadió. <strong>Depurar responsabilidades</strong>. Las supuestas víctimas presentaron ayer sus pasaportes y ratificaron su querella en el juzgado de instrucción número 4 de Marbella. La mayoría proceden de Inglaterra e Irlanda y pagaron entre 10.000 y 40.000 euros cada uno por sus muebles, aunque el despacho marbellí que lleva el caso, Lawbird, calcula que las cantidades estafadas son millonarias y los afectados son muchos más de los que representan. «Las operaciones se han hecho en masa, hablamos de cientos de afectados que han dado el dinero por perdido. Son cantidades importantes pero quizá no lo suficiente para que tengan que molestarse y venir a España a plantear una querella», argumentó. La empresa de MacAnthony se presentaba como una entidad intermediaria que les presentaba los muebles por catálogo y que, supuestamente, los encargaba a los fabricantes, ubicados en países como Turquía. Esta característica se ofrecía como un ahorro para los compradores que tenían comprado sus inmuebles en otros países como Marruecos, Chipre, Bulgaria o Tailandia. El principal acusado, Darragh MacAnthony, niega su responsabilidad en el asunto, tal como indicó el bufete que representa a los supuestos estafados. En la actualidad, MacAnthony es el propietario de un club de fútbol de la primera división inglesa. «No sabemos exactamente dónde se encuentra. Sabemos que tiene domicilio en España y concretamente en Marbella», explicó González. «Vamos a ver las diligencias de averiguación que se realizan por los juzgados y policía para ver si lo pueden localizar. Queremos que acredite lo que tenga que acreditar», advirtió. El objetivo de los querellantes es recuperar el dinero que desembolsaron pero, sobre todo, quieren que se depuren responsabilidades. «Queremos que se aclare todo», manifestaron ayer. </div>  
      • post_titleUna treintena de británicos estafados protesta en Marbella
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          • post_date2012-01-26 20:06:32
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      • ID646
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      • post_date2012-01-26 19:49:40
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      • post_content[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Los afectados se concentraron ayer con pancartas en los juzgados de Marbella. :: JOSELE-LANZA"]<img class=" " title="Los afectados se concentraron ayer con pancartas en los juzgados de Marbella. :: JOSELE-LANZA" src="http://www.diariosur.es/prensa/noticias/201201/26/fotos/11457861.jpg" alt="Puente aéreo contra la estafa" width="300" height="199" />[/caption] <div> Pese a las muchas horas de vuelo acumuladas en el cuerpo y los 3.000 euros gastados en los billetes de avión para él y su mujer, John Andrews no perdía ayer la sonrisa cuando se le preguntaba por qué había decidido volar desde Tailandia, donde reside, hasta Marbella. «Quiero recuperar los 30.000 euros que me han estafado», comentaba a las puertas de los juzgados de la ciudad donde, junto a casi medio centenar de afectados, protagonizaba una pacífica concentración. </div> <div>Todos acababan de aterrizar procedentes de sus ciudades de origen. La mayoría son británicos e irlandeses que un día decidieron confiar en la oferta que la empresa inmobiliaria MacAnthony les puso sobre la mesa: muebles para sus nuevas viviendas (adquiridas también a través de la misma firma) a precios ventajosos. El sistema parecía sencillo. El cliente adelantaba el dinero y MacAnthony actuaba de intermediario con empresas de muebles radicadas en Bulgaria y Turquía, principalmente. Los problemas comenzaron cuando, pasado el tiempo, el mobiliario no llegaba. Y el dinero adelantado tampoco aparecía.</div> <div>«Cuando llamé para quejarme, la empresa me amenazó con quitarme la casa y me exigió que le pidiera disculpas», comentó John Andrews, que pretendía amueblar su nueva casa en Cabo Verde. En Marruecos puso sus ojos Michel Norcup, inglesa. Allí compró una vivienda que MacAnthony debía amueblarle por 40.000 euros. «La táctica que empleaban era presionarte para que compraras los muebles antes incluso de que terminaran las obras de la vivienda. Así cogían el dinero cuanto antes», afirma.</div> <div><strong>El negocio de Darragh</strong></div> <div>Los afectados ratificaron ayer en el Juzgado de Instrucción número 4 de la localidad la querella presentada por estafa y apropiación indebida contra el propietario de la empresa, Darragh MacAnthony, y otros exdirectivos a los que confiaron la compra de muebles para viviendas ubicadas en diversas partes del mundo como Turquía, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Italia, Francia, y Marruecos, donde la inmobiliaria tenía presencia.</div> <div>Los afectados les acusan de quedarse con entre 500.000 y 600.000 euros de las cantidades que dieron a cuenta -unos 15.000 euros por cabeza-. Según explicó uno de los abogados del caso, <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, la mayor parte de estas transacciones se llevaron a cabo en la sede que MacAnthony estableció en Marbella, en concreto, en las instalaciones que el alcalde Jesús Gil utilizó en su día como Club Financiero. Los querellantes aseguran que los responsables de la inmobiliaria han dejado sin bienes a la sociedad, y han cambiado su domicilio social a una 'oficina fantasma' en Madrid de la que figura como administrador un hombre de 90 años sin actividad conocida.</div> <div>Darragh MacAnthony es actualmente propietario de un club de fútbol de la Primera División Inglesa, el Peterborough United, y en agosto pasado puso en marcha un nuevo proyecto consistente en financiar nueva ideas empresariales rechazadas previamente por entidades bancarias.</div>
      • post_titlePuente aéreo contra la estafa
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:06:06
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          • post_content
          • post_titleLos afectados se concentraron ayer con pancartas en los juzgados de Marbella. :: JOSELE-LANZA
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      • ID641
      • post_author1
      • post_date2012-01-26 19:31:29
      • post_date_gmt2012-01-26 18:31:29
      • post_content<img class="alignright" style="margin: 15px;" src="http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/01009/MRI-customers-i_1009077t.jpg" alt="" width="294" height="402" align="rigt" />A SPANISH judge will decide whether football club boss Darragh MacAnthony will face charges after a raft of complaints from disgruntled customers who claim furniture ordered from his firm never arrived. MacAnthony Realty International (MRI) developed resorts in several countries from its Marbella headquarters and sold furniture packs to clients. Hugely popular on the holiday market, MRI had hundreds of Irish customers and boasted an annual turnover greater than €100m before the credit crunch. It made the 35-year-old Dubliner, who now owns Peterborough Football Club, a multi-millionaire. However, a group of 51 Irish and British buyers claim that €492,000 worth of furniture, ordered more than five years ago for apartments in Morocco, Bulgaria and Cape Verde, was never delivered. <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, the Spanish lawyer acting for the group, claims "many other" MRI customers are affected. He alleges that missing furniture is just one of the irregularities linked to MRI, or related companies. He said that an additional claim, totalling €15m, is being prepared on behalf of 200 Irish and British MRI customers claiming that they lost large sums in upfront fees. MRI has consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing. The initial complaint regarding furniture was referred to a Marbella court and is being heard by Judge Beatriz Gomez-Escolar at the Court of Instruction. Under Spanish law, individuals can initiate criminal procedures in some cases. The judge will now decide whether Mr MacAnthony and five other defendants should face the charges of "misappropriation of funds and theft by swindle". Among those wielding placards outside the Marbella court were claimants Brendan O'Dell (52), who works for a pharmaceutical company, and his partner Elizabeth Egan (52), from Corofin, Co Clare. The couple paid €14,000 for a furniture pack for their Moroccan apartment which they claim was never delivered. "It's a joke. This has been dragging on for five years. Like everyone else here we are determined to get our money back," Mr O'Dell said. Claimants John and Muriel Andrews, from Ballycarry, Co Antrim, were also at the court. They paid MRI €29,900 in advance for two furniture packs, for apartments in Cape Verde, which they claim have never been delivered. Efforts to contact Mr MacAnthony were unsuccessful last night. But he has previously said: "There are no foundations behind these allegations. I certainly didn't do anything wrong and neither did anyone with MRI when I was there." He also said: "I operated a company which did thousands of sales around the world with many happy clients, but will forever be haunted by the few hundred for which it didn't work out." In relation to undelivered furniture, the company has said the 2008 property crash forced several of its furniture suppliers out of business and it had to engage new ones -- effectively paying twice for the same furniture order. Also accused in the Spanish case are former MRI CEOs Michael Liggan and Dominic Pickering, Sarah O'Callaghan, and Nicola Shaw, a former director of MRI Ireland. The defendants face up to eight years in jail if convicted of the charges.   <a href="http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=R2UPGY8688P8&linkid=ee3b3ee7-61e3-43a7-a3fc-355042034b75&pdaffid=wsFigc7YgeNHh1kMrTnxuQ%3d%3d"><img class="size-full wp-image-644 alignnone" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="independent" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/independent.jpg" alt="" width="173" height="229" /></a>
      • post_titleAngry customers call for charges against holiday home tycoon
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          • post_date2012-01-26 19:41:16
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      • post_date2012-01-24 14:46:03
      • post_date_gmt2012-01-24 13:46:03
      • post_contenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ev46Tnp2Vw
      • post_titleMacanthony MRI Victims Arrive at Court in Marbella (2012-01-25 - Canal Sur TV)
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      • post_date2012-01-16 16:06:36
      • post_date_gmt2012-01-16 15:06:36
      • post_contentMarbella (Málaga), 16 ene (EFE).- La Audiencia Nacional (AN) ha resuelto no admitir a trámite la querella interpuesta contra bancos internacionales por la Asociación de Víctimas de la Hipoteca Inversa Extranjera por una presunta estafa. <div>Esta supuesta trama se originó en el año 2004 a través de una red de agentes financieros, según han declarado a Efe el abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, del despacho querellante <strong>Lawbird Legal Service</strong>s, ubicado en Marbella.</div> <div>El objetivo era desplegar una campaña de captación de recursos en la Costa del Sol, principalmente a pensionistas extranjeros con viviendas sin hipoteca a los que se ofrecía un producto conocido como "hipoteca inversa".</div> <div>El presunto delito consistía en una simulación donde se "trababan hipotecas" en viviendas ya pagadas o sin hipotecar para ceder préstamos a los clientes que eran llevados a paraísos fiscales, principalmente Luxemburgo, con el objetivo de evadir el impuesto de sucesiones y el de patrimonio, según Flores.</div> <div>El dinero de las víctimas se destinaba a inversiones en mercados financieros que han derivado en bonos japoneses, coronas checas, francos suizos, en monedas, en divisas y bonos de otros bancos.</div> <div>El auto emitido por el juzgado de instrucción número cuatro de la Audiencia Nacional, al que ha tenido acceso Efe, dicta la inadmisión de la querella al "no concurrir los requisitos legales necesarios para considerar competente al juzgado Central de Instrucción".</div> <div>Por otro lado, el escrito recoge que el rechazo a trámite se debe a la "más que dudosa existencia de datos suficientes como para proceder a la incoación de un proceso penal" en virtud de la información aportada en la querella.</div> <div>Según la Audiencia Nacional, no queda probada la existencia de una conexión entre los delitos planteados, otro motivo por el cual no es competencia de la Audiencia Nacional instruir el caso.</div> <div>La querella fue interpuesta el pasado mes de noviembre contra las entidades bancarias europeas Danske Bank, Nordea Bank, N M Rothschild & Sons, Lex Life 6 Pension, Landsbanki, Jyske Bank, Finansbanken, Nykredit, Sydbank y Swiss Life.</div>
      • post_titleLa AN rechaza una querella por presunta estafa de bancos internacionales
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      • ID751
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      • post_date2012-01-16 14:08:20
      • post_date_gmt2012-01-16 13:08:20
      • post_contentAlthough the Danish Bank Tuesday clearly distanced themselves from tax-finten on the coast, the bank has offered tax-reduction programs through Luxembourg, which a few years ago were classified as tax havens. Danish Bank has actively helped to reduce the tax for customers through tax havens. It has a number of years until 2008, passed by the Danish Bank Luxembourg's website that "you can reduce taxes on your earnings on investments, wealth tax and inheritance tax by placing your assets in the right structure." It also showed that as a resident in Spain must pay tax on its values, regardless of where they are located - whether it is deposit accounts, real estate, pensions, etc. So it was that which Danish Bank offered customers residing outside Denmark to avoid paying the tax through the counseling service is Wealth Planning, based in Luxembourg - a performance by the bank in fact still advertise. Now discussed Wealth Planning in conjunction with "tax-efficient solutions." Hides not money CEO Klaus nsted Pedersen from the Danish International Bank has stated in the newspaper Jyllands-Posten's article series on Sydbank model to borrow against property in Spain through Nykredit with the primary aim of reducing customers' inheritance tax: "The Danish Bank, we provide no advice for tax evasion. It is not something we make products. We help, of course, our customers optimize their economy, but we help them not to hide money for tax authorities. It is well established policy we have in this field that permeates our entire organization, "said the nsted Klaus Pedersen. Jyllands-Posten is in possession of an exact correspondence between Danish Bank nsted Klaus Pedersen and the British MEP Sharon Bowles, who speak a financially pressed British couples action. The couple, who are in the 80s, in 2003, mortgaged their home equity in a luxury property in Spain with a mortgage to transfer money to third parties where they were invested. The product is referred to as Equity Release Scheme, and can recall what Sydbank have offered to their Spanish customers. The letter states that the couple had been promised that the inheritance tax on their property could be avoided. The assets would be available through a private banking event in Luxembourg, as the couple made a profit on the transaction by investing their money in low-risk bonds. Deficit: 268,000 It did not go so well with the investment. According to the letter to Klaus nsted Pedersen was ended with a deficit of 268,000 euros. Parliament member indicated also that experts believed that the model could not possibly make a profit because of the interest from mortgage loans. In addition, the couple had subsequently been informed that their heirs still would not respond Spanish property - and that they still had not been exempted from tax by using the model if it had been the case. The letter, also sent to the Danish ambassador in London, Birger Riis-Jørgensen, also shows that the Danish Bank did not have permission to seek customers outside their Scandinavian customer base in Spain. The Danish Bank today do not share in. Danish Bank Luxembourg director, Klaus nsted Pedersen, offered a settlement with the couple because the couple was about to be kicked out of their house because of the huge debt incurred after the event. Submitted some of Jyllands-Posten's record in this case says Klaus Pedersen nsted that wording tax reduction, the bank has previously spent several years on his website, is unfortunate: "I remember formulating tax reduction. It is unfortunate that should have been tax optimization, "says Klaus nsted Pedersen, comparing its products with advice that you can avoid the top marginal tax rate by paying on an installment pension scheme. Danish Bank director confirmed that the Luxembourg bank does not automatically transmit property to the Spanish authorities. It is the customer's responsibility. But it's not the reason why customers should choose Danish Bank Luxembourg than for example a Spanish bank: Special expertise "Our position is that you must pay tax in the country you live in. The reason why you should choose to be a customer of ours over a Spanish bank, is that we have an expertise in international relations as one not find in a Spanish or Danish bank. And so we speak Danish. Therefore it makes sense to be a customer in Luxembourg. " Klaus nsted Pedersen says that he can not comment on the specific case of the British couple. He said nevertheless: "All bankers are experiencing disputes with clients after an unfortunate situation, then find a solution."   <strong>Original Article in Danish</strong>   <h3>Danske Bank også med i spansk skattefinte</h3> AF PETER NYHOLM og JULIE HORNBEK TOFT Offentliggjort 16.01.12 kl. 06:57 Selv om Danske Bank tirsdag klart tog afstand fra skattely-finten på Solkysten, har banken tilbudt skatte-reduktionsprogrammer via Luxembourg, der for få år siden var klassificeret som skattely. Foto: Jonas Pryner Andersen Danske Bank har aktivt hjulpet med at reducere skatten for kunderne via skattely. Det har i en årrække frem til 2008 fremgået af Danske Banks Luxembourgs hjemmeside, at »du kan reducere skatten på dit afkast fra investeringer, formueskat og arveafgift ved at placere dine aktiver i den rette struktur.« Det fremgik også, at man som bosiddende i Spanien skal betale skat af sine værdier uanset, hvor i verden de er placeret - om det er indlånskonti, fast ejendom, pensioner osv. Det var altså det, som Danske Bank tilbød kunder bosiddende uden for Danmark at slippe billigere fra skattemæssigt via rådgivningsydelsen Wealth Planning med udgangspunkt i Luxembourg - en ydelse, som banken for øvrigt stadig reklamerer for. Nu omtales Wealth Planning sammen med »skatteeffektive løsninger«. Skjuler ikke penge Adm. direktør Klaus Mønsted Pedersen fra Danske Bank International udtalte følgende i Morgenavisen Jyllands-Postens artikelserie om Sydbanks model til belåne ejendomme i Spanien via Nykredit med det primære formål at reducere kundernes arveafgift: »I Danske Bank yder vi ikke rådgivning med henblik på skatteunddragelse. Det er heller ikke noget, vi laver produkter til. Vi hjælper selvfølgelig vores kunder med at optimere deres økonomi, men vi hjælper dem ikke med at skjule penge for skattevæsnet. Det er en fasttømret politik, vi har på området, der gennemsyrer hele vores organisation,« lød det fra Klaus Mønsted Pedersen. Jyllands-Posten er imidlertid i besiddelse af en korrespondance mellem netop Danske Banks Klaus Mønsted Pedersen og det britiske parlamentsmedlem Sharon Bowles, der taler et økonomisk presset britisk ægtepars sag. Parret, der er i 80'erne, belånte i 2003 deres friværdi i en luksusejendom i Spanien med et realkreditlån for at overføre pengene til tredjepart, hvor de blev investeret. Produktet omtales som Equity Release Scheme, og kan minde om det, som Sydbank har tilbudt til deres spanske kunder. Af brevet fremgår det, at ægteparret var blevet stillet i udsigt, at arveafgift på deres ejendom kunne undgås. Formuen ville være tilgængelig via et private banking-arrangement i Luxembourg, ligesom ægteparret ville få overskud på transaktionen ved at investere deres penge i lavrisiko-obligationer. Underskud: 268.000 Det gik dog ikke så godt med investeringen. Ifølge brevet til Klaus Mønsted Pedersen var det endt med et underskud på 268.000 euro. Parlamentsmedlemmet oplyste samtidig, at eksperter mente, at modellen umuligt kunne give overskud pga. renterne fra realkreditlånene. Hertil kommer, at ægteparret senere var blevet orienteret om, at deres arvinger alligevel ikke skulle svare spansk ejendomsskat - og at de alligevel ikke var blevet undtaget for skatten ved at bruge modellen, hvis det havde været tilfældet. Af brevet, der også er sendt til den danske ambassadør i London, Birger Riis-Jørgensen, fremgår det også, at Danske Bank ikke havde tilladelse til at opsøge kunder uden for deres skandinaviske kundebase i Spanien. Det er Danske Bank i dag dog ikke enige i. Danske Banks Luxembourg-direktør, Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, tilbød et forlig med parret, da ægteparret stod over for at blive smidt ud af deres hus pga. den store gæld opstået efter arrangementet. Forelagt noget af Jyllands-Postens dokumentation i sagen oplyser Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, at ordvalget skattereduktion, som banken tidligere har brugt i en årrække på sin hjemmeside, er uheldigt: »Jeg kan godt huske formuleringen skattereduktion. Den er uheldig, der skulle have stået skatteoptimering,« siger Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, som sammenligner bankens produkter med rådgivning i, at man kan undgå topskat ved at indbetale på en ratepensionsordning. Danske Bank-direktøren bekræfter, at Luxembourg-banken ikke automatisk indberetter formueforhold til de spanske myndigheder. Det er kundens eget ansvar. Men det er ikke årsagen til, at kunderne skal vælge Danske Bank Luxembourg frem for eksempelvis en spansk bank: Særlig ekspertise »Vores holdning er, at man skal svare skat i det land, som man bor i. Grunden til, at man skal vælge at være kunde hos os frem for en spansk bank, er, at vi har en ekspertise i internationale forhold, som man ikke finder i en spansk eller dansk bank. Og så taler vi dansk. Derfor giver det mening at være kunde i Luxembourg.« Klaus Mønsted Pedersen oplyser, at han ikke må kommentere den konkrete sag om det britiske ægtepar. Han siger dog alligevel: »Alle bankfolk oplever tvister med kunder efter en uheldig situation, så finder man en løsning.«
      • post_titleDanish Bank Also in Spanish Tax Trap
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      • post_date2012-01-16 08:22:02
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      • post_contentLa Audiencia Nacional ha rechazado investigar la querella que unos 20 británicos residentes en la Costa del Sol presentaron el pasado mes de noviembre contra diez entidades financieras extranjeras por un presunto delito de estafa inmobiliaria y publicidad engañosa, según anunció ayer el abogado de los demandantes, <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>. El Tribunal alega que no tiene competencia territorial y que la querella no contiene datos suficientes que permitan iniciar un procedimiento legal, según señaló Flores. La decisión de la Sala demuestra una "absoluta apatía judicial". "La clamorosa ligereza de la Audiencia Nacional contrasta con la presurosa reacción del gobierno danés, que ya ha anunciado que investigará el caso", añadió el letrado. El asunto, según <strong>Flores</strong>, ha causado una "gran conmoción" en Dinamarca, tras conocerse que el cuarto mayor banco de aquel país, Sydbank, implicado en la presunta estafa, opera en España sin la preceptiva autorización de la Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV). "Esperamos que a partir del momento en que las noticias de lo que ocurre en Dinamarca se filtren aquí, los entes competentes, como la CNMV o la Audiencia Nacional, actúen de oficio", señaló el abogado, que apuntó que la primera perjudicada por el presunto fraude fiscal es la Agencia Tributaria, a la que se podría haber hurtado entre 50 y 75 millones de euros. Flores recordó que el caso está siendo investigado por los juzgados de Primera Instancia y que existe la opción de abordar el asunto por la vía civil.
      • post_titleLa Audiencia rechaza investigar una estafa inmobiliaria en la Costa
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      • post_date2012-01-15 18:50:16
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      • post_content<ul> <li>La Audiencia Nacional argumenta que faltan datos para iniciar un proceso</li> <li>Los denunciantes afirman que les engañaron para hipotecar sus viviendas</li> </ul> <div> El juzgado central de Instrucción número 4 de la Audiencia Nacional ha rechazado investigar la presunta estafa que sufrieron una veintena de jubilados extranjeros por parte de diversas entidades bancarias, en su mayoría escandinavas. En noviembre, <a href="http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/11/08/andalucia_malaga/1320781417.html">presentaron una querella </a>contra nueve bancos extranjeros por estafa, publicidad engañosa, defraudación a la Hacienda Pública, así como falsedad en documento público por lo que han denominado "hipoteca inversa extranjera". Según señalan los denunciantes, agentes financieros los atemorizaban diciendo que en España, si alguien muere sin tener una hipoteca sobre su vivienda, el fisco grava de tal manera la sucesión que los herederos nunca podrían abonar los impuestos correspondientes. Entonces <strong>les ofrecieron hipotecar su vivienda, </strong>enviar ese dinero a un paraíso fiscal, sobre todo Luxemburgo, e invertirlo. Pero esas inversiones salieron mal y ahora estas personas luchan para no quedarse sin sus propiedades. La Audiencia Nacional ha dictado un "auto de <strong>inadmisión de la querella </strong>interpuesta, al no concurrir los requisitos legales necesarios para considerar competente al juzgado Central de Instrucción para instruir el objeto de la misma". Además, argumenta que el tribunal no tiene competencia territorial y que <strong>faltan datos suficientes </strong>en la querella para inciar un procedimiento penal, algo que critica el despacho <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella, que representa a un grupo de denunciantes. "Se aprecia una absoluta apatía judicial por parte de este tribunal que ha considerado esta denuncia como carente de relevancia", señalan desde el bufete, desde donde indican que "esta clamorosa pereza y ligereza contrasta con la presurosa <strong>reacción del Gobierno danés, </strong>que ha anunciado que se investigarán las maniobras por las cuales el importe de los préstamos se colocaban en paraísos fiscales, dentro del tráfico habitual en el sector financiero". </div>
      • post_titleRechazan la querella por presunta estafa a ancianos contra 9 bancos extranjeros
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      • post_date2012-01-15 16:10:33
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      • post_contentEl proceso judicial en contra del promotor y la agencia inmobiliaria acusados de estafar a un centenar de británicos en la Costa del Sol sigue adelante y los querellantes amenazan con llegar hasta las últimas consecuencias. Sus letrados han solicitado la comparecencia ante los magistrados que instruyen el caso de los responsables de la agencia inmobiliaria que les vendió unos pisos de lujo que nunca llegaron a construirse. El promotor imputado, administrador de Sun Golf, Ricardo Mirando, declaró el pasado diciembre. Aseguró no haber mantenido ningún contacto con sus clientes «ni físicamente ni por escrito» y que efectuó la devolución del dinero a la inmobiliaria implicada, Ocean View Properties, en función de su comparecencia judicial, a la que ha tenido acceso La Opinión. «Tendrá que probarlo porque aún no ha presentado ni un solo documento», criticó <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, el titular de <strong>Lawbird</strong>, el despacho de abogados marbellí que representa a los litigantes. «Ahora hemos pedido la declaración de la inmobiliaria británica para que demuestren si han recibido o no el dinero», añadió. <strong>70.000 euros de entrada</strong> <strong></strong>Los afectados personados en la querella suman 90 aunque, según los cálculos de Flores, los reales pueden superar los 600, ya que ambas empresas se aliaron para construir y promocionar distintos complejos residenciales en la Costa del Sol, en Marruecos y en la República Dominicana. Los 90 querellantes aseguran haber pagado 4,5 millones de euros por una vivienda que se quedó en el plano. Una media de 70.000 euros por cada afectado. «Sólo en Estepona se vendieron 395 viviendas», indicó. La promoción de Estepona se situaba en la zona conocida como Arroyo Vaquero y sobre la que se asiente, tal cual el solar donde iban a levantarse los inmuebles vendidos. Están acusados de apropiación indebida y de estafa en un pleito iniciado en 2011 y que llevan los juzgados madrileños. Según Miranda, todos los contratos que se realizaron con los compradores los hizo la inmobiliaria y no su promotora. Con ella, reconoce haber llegado a un acuerdo de prestación de servicios para que se construyera las viviendas de Estepona y que «al final de toda la promoción tendría un margen de beneficios del 8%», en virtud de su declaración. Los hechos se remontan a 2006. La agencia Ocean View Properties alcanzó un acuerdo con comercialización con la promotora que administra Miranda. La primera se comprometía a captar clientes británicos para invertir en los pisos y la segunda se encargaba de construir los inmuebles. Finalmente, la obra ni siquiera llegó a iniciarse. <strong><a href="http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/costa-sol-occidental/2012/01/15/promocion-invisible-futuros-residentes-casas/477075.html">Una promoción invisible con futuros residentes pero sin casas</a></strong> El origen de la supuesta estafa se encuentra hace seis años. Entonces, las presuntas víctimas compraron sobre el plano unidades de una promoción que resultó ser «fantasma», de acuerdo con el propio letrado que lleva el caso, el abogado Antonio Flores, titular del bufete con sede en Marbella Lawbird. En la actualidad y pese a que aseguran haber pagado, «no tienen nada, ni promoción, ni dinero y los presuntos responsables aseguran no tener nada que ver con el asunto», indicó el propio letrado. El asunto es grave, en opinión de Flores, ya que los acusados percibieron los depósitos de sus propios clientes sin llegar a suscribir los contratos de compraventa ni a entregar los avales bancarios, tal como obliga la legislación vigente, según explicó. Con estos antecedentes, las intenciones del promotor acusado de este posible fraude inmobiliario, Ricardo Miranda, «no podían ser más sospechosas», en su opinión. Nunca llegó a ser propietario de los terrenos donde se levantaría la promoción en Estepona. Apenas pagó a su dueño 200.000 euros de los 18 millones comprometidos. El solar sigue calificado urbanísticamente como suelo rústico, indicó Flores. En su declaración ante el juez, Miranda asegura haber devuelto el dinero a la agencia inmobiliaria y se desmarcó de las acusaciones que los querellantes vierten contra él. «No he mantenido relación con ellos ni física ni por escrito», dijo. Flores cree que parte dinero entregado por los compradores fue utilizado por el promotor para adquirir una parcela en República Dominicana. Un solar que, paradójicamente, pertenecía a dos implicados en la operación ´Malaya´. Uno de ellos, el acusado por cohecho y fugado Andrés Liétor.
      • post_titlePiden la declaración judicial de una agencia por estafar a cien británicos
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      • post_date2012-01-14 14:48:59
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      • post_contentRich retirees have lost millions to invest through Danish banks on the Suncoast. We have been duped, they believe bank customers that Jyllands-Posten have met in Marbella. They have lost fortunes after the meeting with the crisis, local financial cowboys and Sydbank. MARBELLA, SPAIN - Three times a week does she clean for some Britons in a house with nine guest rooms. It was not like that, 61-year-old Mary Mould had planned his retirement on the coast. The plan was to sit back with their spouse here near Marbella.Sunburnt at the edge of the pool in a dream house, ready for the children visiting from England with additional bedrooms, four marble bathrooms, walk-in closet and everything else. But the house that Mary and her husband bought in 2002, they can not afford to live longer. Mary Mould closes its off-white cardigan closer around him. The apartment, she and husband Eric today borrows from some friends, this is cool January day. "I work so hard. Just think ... And we lived in such a beautiful house. Oh dear, what should be one of us? "Since investment in Sydbank started to go bad, and the British couple had to move from their house, she woke up at five o'clock every morning, she says. Eric Mould, 63, is more restrained. His extremely sunburned face is completely calm about the white shirt collar. And he is angry, because the couple has lost approx. 3 million. £ to invest through Sydbank Switzerland. "The people from Sydbank has been inept. They talked only about making money, not about losing. They have been saying, "We've mastered it." But our economy is desperate, "he said. Lost life savings The pair are among the many foreign retirees who mortgaged their one million houses to prevent the Spanish inheritance tax and make money by investing through Danish banks in Switzerland or Luxembourg. Since then, investment and housing prices plummeted, while debt has remained the same. And now they sit back with a house which they rent out to pay interest on a millionlån. The story we hear often here in Marbella, where rich solpensionister flock, and where the main street is filled with banks and law firms. It is the story of pensioners who lost their life savings because they were persuaded by the customer hungry banks to borrow against their house up the chimney and put the money in risky investments, they did not understand. Or it is the story of rich, tax frightened pensioners who saw the opportunity to earn smart money bet and now the pipes, because they - like many other investors around the world - with smoke when the bottom went out of business in 2008. Bank Customers' lawyer oxen to get a case to court and trap banks for fraud and deceptive marketing, said the first. Banks will probably think the last one, but suffice to say that they have not broken any rules. <strong>Financial cowboy</strong> Eric and Mary Mould bought the house 200 meters from the beach in Puerto Banus - a high class marina a few miles west of Marbella, surrounded by golf courses - to 6.75 million. £ They were paid in cash. They moved down here permanently a few years later, when Eric Mould quit his job as Marketing Manager in Essex. Back then they needed cash and wanted to pull some equity out of the house. In addition they would like to avoid Spanish inheritance tax on the house, in case you should happen them anything. And then they heard through some friends about David Driver. David Driver has no desire to participate in this article, but his client says he is a tall man, who previously worked as a police officer in England. Here in Marbella, he works as a financial advisor in two-man firm Offshore Investment Brokers (OIB). Or Financial cowboy, as some say, because neither he nor the company has any authority to advise on the economy. The OIB brochure that Eric and Mary got in his hand, he advertises for a product that can "free up capital in your house." It consists of an interest-only loans in housing equity withdrawal, which then put in a "secure, custom-designed and regulated portfolio; () structured to cover the loan repayment, income and expenses." Moreover, says that the scheme may cut up to 100 per cent. of inheritance tax on property. <strong>"Now you must not be silly”</strong> David Driver was then hired by Sydbank Switzerland to find customers in its "target audience" in Spain and send them on. The employment contract states that the driver was paid when Sydbank ended a deal with a customer. It also says that the driver was not allowed to advise or explain the bank's products, it should Sydbank do. But it does not say how Driver then have to explain potential customers what Sydbank had to offer. David Driver set up a meeting with Sydbank for Mould-mated in January 2007, they say. Eric Mould remember that the three Sydbankmedarbejdere who flew over from the branch in Switzerland, presented an investment product, Peerless Stable, which was expected to yield a return of 7 per cent. a year and where 75 per cent. the money was completely safe, while the rest were "low risk". Sydbank later in a letter to Eric Mould denied that they have had or presented in such a product. In the sales material, the bank has designed a specified portfolio of proposals. Indicated a percentage risk by 30 percent. on investment. The rest says nothing about. The prospectus for Peerless Stable described the risk as "medium". Mary remembers that she asked the three if their house would be at risk. "They laughed and said," No, you must not be silly, Mrs.. Mould. It's not even talk about, '"she says. A guarantee that Sydbank in the same letter denies having given. After two or three weeks had Eric and Mary Mould signed a loan from Nykredit of 8.7 million. £ It was 80 percent. of the building's assessed value.Of those, they had to pull about 20 per cent. -Ie approx. 1.7 million. kr-out.After costs and fees were approx. 6.6 million. DKK invested in Sydbank Peerless Stable. The couple never saw a return. <strong>The kids do not know</strong> Somewhat the same story telling Mr. and Mrs.. Smith, a British couple who will not have their names in the newspaper. The difference is that Smith-couple's villa was more expensive, so they borrowed 10.5 million. million and invested the 8 million. million in February 2007. And then there's also the difference that the couple - against Sydbank Switzerland's own principles - not met the bank's staff, before they signed the contracts. All material they got from David Driver and Nykredit, they say. The couple's 400 square meter-large villa climbs up a hillside between Malaga and Marbella. From all the house's rooms and two pools, one can look out over the valley, the Mediterranean and in clear weather charts Africa out there. They do not live in the house now, but rents it out to pay interest on the loan. Mr. Smith has run up here in his SUV to show the Jyllands-Posten around. He is mid 60's, has a narrow, tanned face and is wearing light jeans and cowboy boots. They bought the house in cash in 2005 when he quit his job in direct marketing. They have even added the gym under the garage and pool number two, he explains on the tour, where he also asks me not to mention their first names. "For the sake of our children, you understand. They do not know, "is the explanation. <strong>Million-loss</strong> Mr. Smith has been monitoring the investments, interest rates and debt.Letters from Sydbank and Nykredit are arranged in thick binders. After 10 months they had lost approx. 640,000 kroner on Peerless Stable, he shows. And the portfolio has been in freefall since. Along the way, Smith-pair met several times with Sydbank Switzerland at a nearby hotel. The couple have tried various rescue operations. Some suggestions came from David Driver, the unauthorized broker who sold them the product. Not because they trusted him, but because they were desperate, says the couple, who also entrusted Drivers offshore their company pension schemes. Driver suggested them at a time to gear their remaining investments in order to obtain any return. A risky rate Sydbank refused. Shortly after, Driver fired Sydbank. Both Mould-paired and Smith believe it is because he warned people about investment loans. In the letter of termination from 2008 justifying Sydbank firing that David Driver and his colleague has advised customers to replace Sydbank products with other products. <strong>Bond Caught</strong> Back on the Smith account of Sydbank Switzerland is nearly 4.9 million.million, estimates Mr. Smith then an initial loss of £3.1 million. Eric and Mary Mould expect that their investment account today, about 3 million. AUD worth - that is a loss of 3.6 million. £ Both couples say they can not sell their houses at a price that will cover the debt. "We feel ripped off because it seemed like a no-brainer. Banks have speculated that exploit our trust. They have let David Driver sell the product to us and then backed it up with their names. We relied on the Danish banks. The only right is that the banks let the trades go back, "says Mr. Smith. <strong>New hope with Antonio</strong> Bank customers now have fastened their hopes on <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, a young, closely cropped lawyer in Marbella, who tells them that what happened is illegal. The banks have defrauded and misled. And customers have a chance to win their money back. He is working on "no cure, no pay" basis and get 10 per cent. of everything he gets home to his clients. For more than a year he has worked hard to attract burned bank customers: blogged, written articles and been interviewed. Mary Mould heard him on the radio while she cleaned. She hurried to write down the number and got Eric to call him. "He gives us hope. He is so positive, do not you think?, "She says. So far, Flores received just over 40 bank customers into its fold. They come primarily from Danish banks and their history, he says, hardly distinguishable Sydbank / Nykredit customers. So far he has not had luck with the case which has been rejected by two Spanish courts. But he claws on. Sydbank have had the article to gennemlæsning.Banken did not want to comment on the content, but reserves the right to defend itself. <strong></strong><strong>FACTS: Equity Release Package</strong> <ul> <li>Basically it's about to invest money that you borrow in his house.</li> <li>The Bank shall, via brokers, clients paid houses.</li> <li>Nykredit belåner property in Spain (or France).</li> <li>The money goes straight into Sydbank Switzerland, issuing guarantees to Nykredit in 25 -30 per cent. of loan principal.</li> <li>The customer may want. get an overdraft of more than 20 per cent. of mortgage loan principal.</li> <li>In Spain the inheritance tax is levied only by equity in real estate package therefore serves primarily the purpose of pulling money out of the house and into a Swiss bank.</li> <li>Additionally hoped on that investment yielded more than the mortgage cost.</li> </ul> <strong>FACTS: The case in brief </strong> <ul> <li>Jyllands-Posten has revealed that Sydbank subsidiary in Switzerland actively helped clients evade taxes in overseas.</li> <li>Via Nykredit was possible customers in particular. a Spain offered a package that consisted of a loan in the equity in their luxury housing, which were invested through Sydbank Switzerland.</li> <li>The model was bl. a marketed as a way to hide the values ??of the Spanish tax authorities and a way to earn extra money.</li> <li>This occurred despite the fact that Sydbank had Spanish banking license.</li> <li>Several clients have lost millions on the product.</li> <li>Also other Danish banks have been involved in similar models.</li> </ul> <div><strong>Original Article in Danish Below</strong></div> <div> <h2>Skyer over Solkysten</h2> AF JULIE HORNBEK TOFT OG PETER NYHOLM; <a href="mailto:julie.h.toft@jp.dk">julie.h.toft@jp.dk</a> <a href="mailto:peter.nyholm@jp.dk">peter.nyholm@jp.dk</a> Offentliggjort 14.01.12 kl. 09:45 <strong>Rige pensionister har tabt millioner på at investere gennem danske banker på Solkysten. Vi er blevet taget ved næsen, mener de bankkunder, som Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten har mødt i Marbella. De har mistet formuer efter mødet med krisen, lokale finansielle cowboys og Sydbank.</strong>   MARBELLA, SPANIEN - Tre gange om ugen gør hun rent for nogle briter i en villa med ni gæsteværelser. Det var ikke lige sådan, 61-årige Mary Mould havde planlagt sit otium på Solkysten. Planen var at læne sig tilbage sammen med ægtefællen her nær Marbella. Solbrændt ved kanten af poolen i drømmehuset, klar til børnenes besøg fra England med ekstra soveværelser, fire marmorbadeværelser, walk-in-closet og alt det andet. Men huset, som Mary og hendes mand købte i 2002, har de ikke råd til at bo længere. Mary Mould lukker sin råhvide cardigan tættere om sig. Lejligheden, hun og mand Eric i dag låner af nogle venner, er kølig denne januardag. »Jeg arbejder så hårdt. Tænk bare... Og vi boede i sådan et smukt hus. Oh dear, hvad skal der ikke blive af os?« Siden investeringerne i Sydbank begyndte at gå dårligt, og det britiske par måtte flytte fra deres hus, er hun vågnet klokken fem hver morgen, fortæller hun. Eric Mould, 63, er mere behersket. Hans ekstremt solbrændte ansigt er helt roligt over den hvide skjortekrave. Og så er han vred, for parret har tabt ca. 3 mio. kr. på at investere gennem Sydbank Schweiz. »Folkene fra Sydbank har været uduelige. De talte kun om at tjene penge -ikke om at tabe. De er blevet ved med at sige, "Vi har styr på det". Men vores økonomi er desperat,« siger han. <strong>Tabte livsopsparinger</strong> Parret er blandt de mange udenlandske pensionister, der belånte deres millionvillaer for at undgå den spanske arveskat og tjene penge på at investere gennem danske banker i Schweiz eller Luxembourg. Siden er investeringerne og huspriserne raslet ned, mens gælden er forblevet den samme. Og nu sidder de tilbage med et hus, som de lejer ud for at kunne betale renterne på et millionlån. Den historie hører man ofte hernede i Marbella, hvor rige solpensionister flokkes, og hvor hovedgaden er fyldt med banker og advokatkontorer. Det er historien om pensionister, der har mistet deres livsopsparing, fordi de blev overtalt af kundesultne banker til at belåne deres hus op til skorstenen og sætte pengene i risikable investeringer, de ikke havde forstand på. Eller det er historien om rige, skatteforskrækkede pensionister, der øjnede muligheden for at tjene smarte penge, satsede og nu piber, fordi de - lige som mange andre investorer verden over - røg med, da bunden gik ud af markedet i 2008. Bankkundernes advokat, der okser for at få en sag for en domstol og fælde bankerne for snyd og vildledende markedsføring, mener det første. Bankerne vil nok mene det sidste, men de nøjes med at sige, at de ikke har brudt nogen regler. <strong>Finansiel cowboy</strong> Eric og Mary Mould købte huset 200 meter fra vandet i Puerto Banus - en high class marina nogle kilometer vest for Marbella omgivet af golfbaner - for 6,75 mio. kr. De blev betalt kontant. De flyttede herned permanent et par år senere, da Eric Mould kvittede jobbet som marketingschef i Essex. Dengang havde de brug for kontanter og ville gerne trække lidt friværdi ud af huset. Desuden ville de gerne undgå den spanske arveafgift på huset, hvis nu der skulle ske dem noget. Og så hørte de gennem nogle venner om David Driver. David Driver har ikke ønsket at deltage i denne artikel, men hans klienter fortæller, at han er en høj mand, der tidligere arbejdede som politibetjent i England. Her i Marbella arbejder han som finansiel rådgiver i tomands-firmaet Offshore Investment Brokers (OIB). Eller financial cowboy, som nogen siger, for hverken han eller virksomheden har nogen form for autorisation til at rådgive om økonomi. I OIB's brochure, som Eric og Mary fik i hånden, reklamerer han for et produkt, der kan "frigøre formuen i dit hus". Det består af et afdragsfrit lån i husets friværdi, som så sættes i en "sikker, specialdesignet og reguleret portefølje; () struktureret til at dække tilbagebetaling af lånet, indkomst og omkostninger." Desuden, står der, kan ordningen skære op til 100 pct. af arveafgiften på ejendommen. <strong>»Nu må De ikke være fjollet«</strong> David Driver var på det tidspunkt hyret af Sydbank Schweiz til at finde kunder i bankens "målgruppe" i Spanien og sende dem videre. I ansættelseskontrakten står der, at Driver blev betalt, når Sydbank sluttede en handel med en kunde. Der står også, at Driver ikke måtte rådgive eller forklare om bankens produkter, det skulle Sydbank selv gøre. Men der står ikke, hvordan Driver så skulle forklare mulige kunder, hvad Sydbank havde at tilbyde. David Driver satte et møde op med Sydbank for Mould-parret i januar 2007, siger de. Eric Mould husker, at de tre Sydbankmedarbejdere, der fløj over fra filialen i Schweiz, præsenterede et investeringsprodukt, Peerless Stable, der forventedes at give et afkast på 7 pct. om året, og hvor 75 pct. af pengene var helt sikre, mens resten var "lav risiko". Sydbank har senere i et brev til Eric Mould afvist, at de har haft eller præsenteret sådan et produkt. I det salgsmateriale, banken selv har udformet, er et udspecificeret porteføljeforslag. Der er anført en procentuel risiko ved 30 pct. af investeringerne. Resten står der ikke noget om. I prospektet for Peerless Stable betegnes risikoen som "medium". Mary husker, at hun spurgte de tre, om deres hus ville være i farezonen. »De grinede og sagde, "Nej, nu må De ikke være fjollet, Mrs. Mould. Det er der slet ikke tale om",« siger hun. En garanti, som Sydbank i samme brev afviser at have givet. Efter to-tre uger havde Eric og Mary Mould underskrevet et lån hos Nykredit på 8,7 mio. kr. Det var 80 pct. af husets vurderede værdi. Af dem måtte de trække omkring 20 pct. -altså ca. 1,7 mio. kr. -ud. Efter omkostninger og gebyrer blev ca. 6,6 mio. kr. investeret i Sydbanks Peerless Stable. Parret så aldrig et afkast. <strong>Børnene ved det ikke</strong> Nogenlunde samme historie fortæller Mr. og Mrs. Smith, et britisk par, der ikke vil havde deres fornavne i avisen. Forskellen er bare, at Smith-parrets villa var dyrere, så de lånte 10,5 mio. kr. og investerede de 8 mio. kr. i februar 2007. Og så er der også den forskel, at parret - stik imod Sydbank Schweiz' egne principper - slet ikke mødte bankens personale, før de underskrev kontrakterne. Alt materiale fik de fra David Driver og Nykredit, siger de. Parrets 400 kvm-store villa klatrer op ad en bjergskråning mellem Malaga og Marbella. Fra alle husets værelser og de to pools kan man se ud over dalen, Middelhavet og i klart vejr ane Afrika derude. De bor ikke i huset nu, men lejer det ud for at betale renter på lånet. Mr. Smith er kørt herop i sin firhjulstrækker for at vise Jyllands-Posten rundt. Han er midt i 60' erne, har et smalt, solbrændt ansigt og er iført lyse jeans og cowboy-støvler. De købte huset kontant i 2005, da han kvittede sit job i direct marketing. De har selv tilføjet fitnessrummet under garagen og pool nummer to, forklarer han på turen, hvor han også beder mig om ikke at nævne deres fornavne. »Af hensyn til vores børn, forstår du. De ved det ikke,« er forklaringen. <strong>Million-tab</strong> Mr. Smith har holdt øje med investeringerne, renterne og gælden. Breve fra Sydbank og Nykredit er ordnet i tykke ringbind. Efter 10 måneder havde de tabt ca. 640.000 kr. på Peerless Stable, viser han. Og porteføljen har været i frit fald siden. Undervejs har Smith-parret holdt flere møder med Sydbank Schweiz på et nærliggende hotel. Parret har prøvet forskellige redningsaktioner. Nogle forslag kom fra David Driver, den uautoriserede mægler der solgte dem produktet. Ikke fordi de stolede på ham, men fordi de var desperate, forklarer parret, der i øvrigt også har betroet Drivers offshore-firma deres pensionsordninger. Driver foreslog dem på et tidspunkt at geare deres tilbageværende investeringer for at indhente noget afkast. Et risikabelt sats, som Sydbank afslog. Kort efter blev Driver fyret af Sydbank. Både Mould-parret og Smith mener, at det er fordi, at han advarede folk om investeringslånene. I opsigelsesbrevet fra 2008 begrunder Sydbank fyringen med, at David Driver og hans kollega har rådet kunder til at erstatte Sydbank-produkter med andre produkter. <strong>Bondefanget</strong> Tilbage på Smith-kontoen i Sydbank Schweiz er knap 4,9 mio. kr., anslår Mr. Smith -altså et foreløbigt tab på 3,1 mio. kr. Eric og Mary Mould regner med, at deres investeringskonto i dag er omkring 3 mio. kr. værd - altså et tab på 3,6 mio. kr. Begge par siger, at de ikke kan sælge deres huse til en pris, der vil dække gælden. »Vi føler os bondefanget, for det virkede som en no-brainer. Bankerne har spekuleret i at udnytte vores tillid. De har ladet David Driver sælge produktet til os og så bakket det op med deres navn. Vi stolede jo på danske banker. Det eneste rigtige er, at bankerne lader handlerne gå tilbage,« siger Mr. Smith. <strong>Nyt håb med Antonio</strong> Bankkunderne har nu fæstet deres lid til Antonio Flores, en ung, tætklippet advokat i Marbella, der fortæller dem, at det, der er sket, er ulovligt. At bankerne har svindlet og vildledt. Og at kunderne har en chance for at vinde deres penge tilbage. Han arbejder på "no cure, no pay"-basis og får 10 pct. af alt, hvad han henter hjem til sine klienter. I mere end et år har han knoklet for at tiltrække brændte bankkunder: blogget, skrevet artikler og ladet sig interviewe. Mary Mould hørte ham i radioen, mens hun gjorde rent. Hun skyndte sig at skrive nummeret ned og fik Eric til at ringe til ham. »Han giver os håb. Han er så positiv, synes du ikke?,« siger hun. Indtil videre har Flores fået godt 40 bankkunder i sin fold. De kommer primært fra danske banker, og deres historie, siger han, ligner til forveksling Sydbank/ Nykreditkundernes. Indtil videre har han dog ikke haft held med sagen, der er blevet afvist af to spanske retsinstanser. Men han klør på. Sydbank har haft artiklen til gennemlæsning.Banken har ikke ønsket at kommentere indholdet, men forbeholder sig ret til at tage til genmæle.   <a href="http://finanswatch.dk/eceRedirect?articleId=1018927">Spansk advokat jagter danske banker</a> <a href="http://finanswatch.dk/eceRedirect?articleId=1018924">Juristen, der forelskede sig i pengene</a> <a href="http://finanswatch.dk/eceRedirect?articleId=1018923">Sydbank venter erstatninger til Solkysten-kunder </a>     <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FAKTA</span></strong>   Equity Release Package   Grundlæggende handler det om at investere for penge, man låner i sit hus. Banken finder, via mæglere, kunder med udbetalte huse. Nykredit belåner ejendom i Spanien (eller Frankrig). Pengene ryger direkte over i Sydbank Schweiz, som udsteder garanti til Nykredit på 25 -30 pct. af lånets hovedstol. Kunden kan evt. få en kassekredit på maks. 20 pct. af realkreditlånets hovedstol. I Spanien svares kun arveafgift af friværdien i fast ejendom, pakken tjener altså først og fremmest det formål at trække penge ud af huset og over i en Schweizisk bank. Derudover håbes der på, at investeringerne afkaster mere, end hvad realkreditlånet koster.     <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FAKTA</span></strong>   <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sagen kort</span>   Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten har afsløret, at Sydbanks datterselskab i Schweiz aktivt har hjulpet kunder med at unddrage skat i udlandet. Via Nykredit blev mulige kunder i bl. a. Spanien tilbudt en pakkeløsning, der bestod af et lån i friværdien på deres luksusbolig, der så blev investeret gennem Sydbank Schweiz. Modellen blev bl. a. markedsført som en måde at skjule værdier for spanske skattemyndigheder og en måde at tjene ekstra penge på. Dette skete på trods af, at Sydbank ikke havde spansk banklicens. Flere kunder har tabt millioner på produktet. Også andre danske banker har været involveret i lignende modeller.       </div>
      • post_titleClouds over the Costa del Sol
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      • post_date2012-01-13 14:39:46
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      • post_contentA Spanish lawyer is trying to pull six Danish banks in court for selling risky investment for homeowners on the coast. Fraudulent and misleading marketing. This is a Spanish lawyer charges against 10 banks, including six Danish, who sold the investment at the Suncoast. Lawyer <strong>Antonio Flore</strong>s from Marbella, Spain, representing clients from Nordea, Danish Bank, Sydbank, Nykredit, Jyske Bank and Finance Bank. Bank customers have lost money to borrow against their Spanish one million houses and invest equity - often through tax havens like Switzerland and Luxemburg. Flores argues that the customers were told that they could avoid Spanish inheritance tax on the house, and that investment would both cover the cost of borrowing and provide extra spending money. "Banks have scammed people. They should never have offered the products for these people," said the lawyer. "Banks are obliged not to sell products that can harm people. Investment in equity is a højrisikabelt product that was sold to retirees on false premises. If the banks had informed about risks, they would never have put the whole property at stake," he says. <strong>Will terminate contracts</strong> Moreover, it is not lawful to borrow against his house in order to avoid inheritance tax, says <strong>Antonio Flores.</strong> He says his clients have invested a total of around 200 million. million in such products - and lost between 30 per cent. and 40 per cent., as the market broke in 2008. Flores goes after getting contracts ruled invalid and require banks to replace the losses, according to Flores calculates to between £60 and £80 million. The service is being offered at a "no win, no fee" model. So far, this has been an uphill battle for the lawyer. The case has been dismissed by the local court in Fuengirola and the High Court in Madrid.Currently, a local court in Marbella, however, assumed a similar case against Nordea Bank, where they investigate allegations of deceptive marketing to a British couple. "We are sorry that there is a customer who was unhappy with the bank," said John Mortensen, Head of Nordea in Luxembourg. "But we have observed all the rules we should. So in that light, we are not worried." The other banks said they have not been contacted in cases and insists that they have followed all the rules. At Denmark's largest bank, Danish Bank, take the accusations calmly. "We are amazed that Flores lawyers insist the matter has been rejected twice," says Klaus nsted Pedersen, CEO of Danish Bank International. Jyllands-Posten has in recent days focused on Danish banks' business with wealthy clients on the Suncoast. Sydbank Switzerland in internal documents acknowledged that there can be no substitutes for high net worth clients in Spain, who have invested their home equity through the bank in Switzerland.   <strong>Original Article in Danish Below</strong> <h2>Spansk advokat jagter danske banker</h2> Af JULIE HORNBEK TOFT og PETER NYHOLM Offentliggjort 13.01.12 kl. 07:13 <strong>En spansk advokat forsøger at hive seks danske banker i retten for at have solgt risikable investeringslån til husejere på Solkysten.</strong> Svindel og vildledende markedsføring. Sådan lyder en spansk advokats anklager mod 10 banker, heriblandt seks danske, der har solgt investeringslån på Solkysten. Advokat Antonio Flores fra Marbella, Spanien, repræsenterer kunder fra Nordea, Danske Bank, Sydbank, Nykredit, Jyske Bank og Finansbanken. Bankkunderne har tabt penge på at belåne deres spanske millionvillaer og investere friværdien - ofte gennem skattely som Schweiz og Luxemburg. Flores hævder, at kunderne blev fortalt, at de kunne undgå spansk arveafgift på huset, og at investeringerne både ville dække låneudgifterne og give ekstra lommepenge. "Bankerne har snydt folk. De skulle aldrig have tilbudt produkterne til disse mennesker," siger advokaten. "Banker er forpligtede til ikke at sælge produkter, der kan skade folk. Investeringslån i friværdien er et højrisikabelt produkt, der blev solgt til pensionister på falske præmisser. Hvis bankerne havde informeret om risici, ville de aldrig have sat hele ejendomme på spil," siger han. <strong>Vil ophæve kontrakter</strong> Desuden er det ikke lovligt at belåne sit hus med det formål at slippe for arveafgift, mener Antonio Flores. Han fortæller, at hans klienter i alt har investeret omkring 200 mio. kr. i sådanne produkter - og tabt mellem 30 pct. og 40 pct., da markedet knækkede i 2008. Flores går efter at få kontrakterne dømt ugyldige og forpligte bankerne til at erstatte tabene, der ifølge Flores beregner sig til mellem 60 og 80 mio. kr. Flores aflønnes efter en ”no cure, no pay”-model og vil i så fald få 10 pct. af erstatningssummerne. Indtil videre har det dog været op ad bakke for advokaten. Sagen er blevet afvist ved den lokale ret i Fuengirola og landsretten i Madrid. I øjeblikket har en lokal domstol i Marbella dog antaget en lignende sag mod Nordea Bank, hvor de undersøger anklager om vildledende markedsføring over for et britisk ægtepar. "Vi er kede af, at der er en kunde, der er blevet utilfreds med banken," siger John Mortensen, chef for Nordea i Luxemburg. "Men vi har overholdt alle de regler, vi skal. Så i det lys er vi ikke bekymrede." De øvrige banker fortæller, at de ikke er blevet kontaktet i sagerne og fastholder, at de har fulgt alle regler. Hos Danmarks største bank, Danske Bank, tager man anklagerne roligt. "Vi er forbløffede over, at advokat Flores holder fast i sagen, der er blevet afvist to gange," siger Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, adm. direktør for Danske Bank International. Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten har de seneste dage sat fokus på danske bankers forretninger med rige kunder på solkysten. Sydbank Schweiz har i interne dokumenter erkendt, at der kan blive tale om erstatninger til formuende kunder i Spanien, som har investeret deres friværdi gennem banken i Schweiz.
      • post_titleSpanish lawyer chasing Danish banks
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      • post_content<div> <div><img class="alignright" title="Internt dokument afslører, at bank er forberedt på at betale erstatning" src="http://www.radiosolymar.es/sites/default/files/imagecache/nodo/120113_flores.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="330" /></div> </div> <div> <div> <div> Internt dokument afslører, at bank er forberedt på at betale erstatning </div> </div> </div> Som Spanien i Dag tidligere har skrevet om, har en spansk advokat anlagt sag mod seks danske banker for svindel og vildledende markedsføring. Indtil videre har<strong> Antonio Flores</strong> fra Marbella fået sagen afvist i byretten og landsretten, men han giver ikke op.   <strong><a href="http://radiosolymar.es/spanske/nyheder/danske-banker-anklages-svig" target="_blank">Læs mere her</a></strong> Den spanske advokat anklager i alt 10 banker, heriblandt seks danske, der har solgt investeringslån på Solkysten. Antonio Flores repræsenterer kunder fra Nordea, Danske Bank, Sydbank, Nykredit, Jyske Bank og Finansbanken.   <strong>Har snydt og solgt på falske præmisser</strong> Bankkunderne har mistet formuer på at belåne deres boliger i Spanien og investere friværdien. Det er sket gennem skattely-lande som Schweiz og Luxemburg. Ifølge Flores fik kunderne dels at vide, at de kunne undgå at deres arvinger skulle betale arveafgift, dels at investeringerne både ville dække låneudgifter og give ekstra penge i kassen.   - Bankerne har snydt folk. De skulle aldrig have tilbudt produkterne til disse mennesker. Banker er forpligtede til ikke at sælge produkter, der kan skade folk. Investeringslån i friværdien er et højrisikabelt produkt, der blev solgt til pensionister på falske præmisser. Hvis bankerne havde informeret om risici, ville de aldrig have sat hele ejendomme på spil, siger advokaten.   <img src="http://www.radiosolymar.es/sites/default/files/images/120113_hus_bank.jpg" alt="" /> <em>Lånedokumentet tinglyses i den spanske ejendom, hvorefter provenuet fra lånet udbetales i en schweizisk - eller anden udenlandsk - bank</em>   <strong>Har mistet op mod 40 procent</strong> Han mener også, at det er direkte ulovligt at belåne sin bolig for at slippe for arveafgift.   I alt har hans klienter investeret omkring 200 mio. kr. og tabt op til 40 pct., da boblen bristede i 2008. Flores kæmper for at få kontrakterne dømt ugyldige og forpligte bankerne til at erstatte tabene på op mod 80 mio. kr.   <a href="http://www.radiosolymar.es/spanske/nyheder/anklager-danske-banker-svindel"><strong>Hør interview med advokat Antonio Flores, der udtaler sig om sagen (på spansk)</strong></a>   <strong>Kort resume af Radio Solymars interview med advokat Antonio Flores:</strong> - Sagen er ikke blevet afvist, den er lagt over til andre dommerkontorer og vil blive behandlet ved enten kriminalretten eller i civilretten. Landsretten har end ikke undersøgt sagen, men nøjes med at konstatere, at den ikke hører til der, siger han. - Vi forventer at aftalerne mellem bankerne og deres kunder om salg af højrisikable lån bliver annulleret, fordi de blev solgt til personer, som ikke kendte noget til investeringer. Kunderne fik tilbudt en rådgivning, der havde til henblik at unddrage beskatning.   Antonio Flores mener også, at de danske banker kan være blevet snydt af uhæderlige investeringsrådgivere, frem for alt briter, der kontrollerede markedet. - Bankerne har ikke undersøgt sagen til bunds, eller også har de troet, at det her rent faktisk gik eller overladt sagen til tvivlsomme eksperter, hvoraf mange opererede illegalt i Spanien, siger han.   Det er frem for alt briter, der er gået i fælden hos de danske banker, mener han.   - Der er brug for mere kontrol med markedsføringen over for udlændinge på Costa del Sol. Det er jo grusomheder, der bliver reklameret med, og vi spaniere kan simpelt hen ikke forstå, hvordan man kan bedrage ældre folk på den måde, siger advokaten.   - Jeg talte i morges med en engelsk dame på 88 år, som nu ser ud til at miste sit hus til Jyske Bank. Hvordan kan det lade sig gøre, at en ældre dame, der er kommet til Costa del Sol for at nyde resten af sit liv her bliver udsat for den slags, fortæller advokaten, som slutter af med at konstatere at Spanien endnu ikke er på højde med Nordeuropa, når det gælder kontrollen med finansielle produkter. <strong>Danske Bank tager det med et gran salt</strong> Jylland Posten har fået fingrene i interne dokumenter fra Sydbank Schweiz, hvori man erkender, at der kan blive tale om erstatninger til formuende kunder i Spanien. Kunder, som har investeret deres friværdi gennem banken i Schweiz.   <img src="http://www.radiosolymar.es/sites/default/files/images/120113_sydbank.jpg" alt="" />   Hos Danmarks største bank, Danske Bank, tager man anklagerne roligt.   - Vi er forbløffede over, at advokat Flores holder fast i sagen, der er blevet afvist to gange, siger Klaus Mønsted Pedersen, adm. direktør for Danske Bank International, til Jyllands Posten.   Advokat Antonio Flores oplyser, at sagerne ikke er blevet afvist ved domstolen i Madrid. Retten har erklæret manglende kompetence i disse sager og henvist til, at de skal rejses ved domstolene i de områder, hvor de berørte ejendomme ligger. - Vi har derfor anlagt sager ved dommerkontorene i flere kommuner, siger Antonio Flores.   Spanien i Dag følger sagens udvikling.
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      • post_date2012-01-11 15:14:26
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      • post_contentNykredit played a key role in Sydbank tax-feint, and has also helped Jyske Bank's customers at the Suncoast to borrow against their home equity. Minister of Taxation is now entering the case. Several Danish banks as Sydbank been able to help foreign customers to optimize their succession through tax havens. It would ceteris paribus good could be done to save a fortune that would otherwise appear as equity in their property, for example. Spain, via Jyske Bank, explains Jens Lauritzen, CEO of Jyske Bank's foreign operations: "We have also financed up to 100 per cent. Of a property value in some inherited cases. But it is not a product we have advised on - we have instead referred to the client's lawyer or accountant. It is not a product that is good for all customers, and it's only a few who are clients in Switzerland, where we have no duty to inform. " <strong>Nordea does not reject</strong> Jens Lauritzen says that Jyske Bank's customers must sign that they will report their assets to the IRS. But does the customer home in the bank's branch in Switzerland, the bank can not be sure that the customer actually does it. "If this is so that customers are not telling the truth or cheat us, so it may seem that the authorities do not get the right information. But we have not actively sold these products," says Jens Lauritzen. In Nordea, which is taking over a part of Sydbank Swiss customers will not deny that one has been able to do something similar. "Nordea does not comment on competitors' practices. But generally, that Nordea advises clients under the rules that apply - it also includes the tax in the countries in which we operate," says the press department. <strong>Home equity on the Suncoast</strong> As revealed in the newspaper Jyllands-Posten yesterday, Nykredit has provided mortgage loans to finance Sydbank tax feint in Spain, according to an internal mail to Sydbank CEO of Karen Frøsig primarily have been intended to reduce inheritance tax. Now, says Nykredit that you have mortgaged home equity on the coast for more partners than Aabenraa Bank, including Jyske Bank. And you can not deny that money ended up in tax havens, explains Hanne Egaa, area director for International Lending. "Customers are predisposing themselves to the money they get paid. We provide loans, but where the money is transferred to the mix, we are not in. But we report all our mortgages to the Danish tax authorities," says Hanne Egaa. <strong>Taxation in action</strong> Now also Tax Möger Thor Pedersen (SF) into the proceedings: "It is clear that my awareness increased if a large bank is proposing a maneuver in which the tax is due on the loan must be placed in a tax haven country with no accountability. If it is a widespread traffic in the financial sector, it is certainly something we will look more closely. " Sydbank commented yesterday Jyllands-Posten's unveiling. The message was that you do not have violated tax laws, but advised to optimize clients' wealth by borrowing against equity in their properties and invest the proceeds. -- <strong>Original Article in Danish below.</strong> <h2>Flere banker arbejder i skattely</h2> Af PETER NYHOLM of JULIE HORNBEK TOFT Offentliggjort 11.01.12 kl. 06:45 <strong>Nykredit spillede en hovedrolle i Sydbanks skattely-finte og har også hjulpet Jyske Bank-kunder på Solkysten med at belåne deres friværdier. Skatteministeren går nu ind i sagen.</strong> Flere danske banker har som Sydbank kunnet hjælpe udenlandske kunder med at optimere deres arveforhold via skattely. Det ville alt andet lige godt kunne lade sig gøre at gemme en formue væk, der ellers ville fremstå som friværdi i ejendom i f.eks. Spanien, via Jyske Bank, forklarer Jens Lauritzen, direktør for Jyske Banks udenlandske aktiviteter: "Vi har også finansieret op til 100 pct. af en ejendoms værdi i nogle arvesager. Men det er ikke et produkt, vi selv har rådgivet om - vi har i stedet henvist til kundens advokat eller revisor. Det er ikke et produkt, som er godt for alle kunder, og det er kun et fåtal, som er kunder i Schweiz, hvor vi ikke har indberetningspligt." <strong>Nordea afviser ikke</strong> Jens Lauritzen oplyser, at Jyske Banks kunder skal skrive under på, at de vil indberette deres formueforhold til skattemyndighederne. Men hører kunden hjemme i bankens afdeling i Schweiz, kan banken ikke være sikker på, at kunden rent faktisk gør det. "Hvis det er sådan, at kunderne ikke fortæller sandheden eller snyder os, så kan det forekomme, at myndighederne ikke får de rigtige informationer. Men vi har ikke aktivt solgt sådanne produkter," siger Jens Lauritzen. I Nordea, der er ved at overtage en del af Sydbanks Schweiz' kunder, vil man ikke afvise, at man har kunnet gøre noget lignende. "Nordea kommenterer ikke konkurrenters praksis. Men generelt gælder det, at Nordea rådgiver kunder i henhold til de regler, der gælder - det omfatter også skattereglerne i de lande, som vi opererer i," lyder det fra presseafdelingen. <strong>Friværdier på Solkysten</strong> Som afsløret i Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten i går har Nykredit leveret realkreditlån til finansiering af Sydbanks skattefinte i Spanien, som ifølge en intern mail til Sydbank-topdirektør Karen Frøsig først og fremmest har haft til formål at reducere arveafgift. Nu oplyser Nykredit, at man har belånt friværdier på Solkysten for flere samarbejdspartnere end Aabenraa-banken, herunder Jyske Bank. Og man kan ikke afvise, at pengene er endt i skattely, forklarer Hanne Egaa, områdedirektør for Nykredit International. "Kunderne disponerer selv over de penge, de får udbetalt. Vi yder lån, men hvor pengene bliver overført til, blander vi os ikke i. Men vi indberetter alle vores realkreditlån til de danske skattemyndigheder," siger Hanne Egaa. <strong>Skatteminister i aktion</strong> Nu går også skatteminister Thor Möger Pedersen (SF) ind i sagen: "Det er klart, at min opmærksomhed skærpes, hvis en stor bank foreslår en manøvre, hvor skattelettelsen beror på, at lånet skal placeres i et skattelyland uden oplysningspligt. Hvis det er en udbredt trafik i finanssektoren, er det bestemt noget, vi vil se nærmere på." Sydbank kommenterede i går Jyllands-Postens afsløring. Meldingen var, at man ikke har overtrådt skattelovgivningen, men rådgivet i at optimere kundernes formueforhold ved at belåne friværdi i ejendomme og investere provenuet.      
      • post_titleSeveral banks operating in tax havens
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      • post_contentLarge Spanish one million houses were mortgaged to Sydbank could sell investment services and pull money home to the Swiss banking subsidiary.Sydbank did not even have a Spanish bank license. But it did not prevent the bank from placing advertisements and pay for men to attract wealth from rich foreigners residing in such Spain Sydbank Switzerland with headquarters in the Alpine town of St. Gallen. Velhaverne had persuaded the wisdom of borrowing against their houses one million low-interest mortgages through Nykredit Danish on Kalvebod Brygge in Copenhagen. The money from the loan was transferred to Sydbank Switzerland, which invested money. Customers with property in Spain and France were promised that the investments yielded a higher return than the mortgage cost in interest. It could therefore be an additional income. But it was the reduction of payment of inheritance tax in Spain, which was the central cause of belåningsfinten, according to internal communication from Sydbank newspaper Jyllands Posten had access to. According to several sources with close knowledge of Swiss banking, this scam is only meaningful if one can hide his assets behind the Swiss banking secrecy. Because when money is placed in Switzerland, is the customer's responsibility to report their existence to the relevant tax authorities. <strong>Inheritance</strong> Tax Director Johnny Schaadt Hansen of Tax Administration Department for Economic Crime is certainly not impressed with the model if it is used by Danes with residences on the coast: "For example. Has two children at home in Denmark, who will inherit a house in Spain, which is mortgaged to the way the real value of the asset less. So you must also pay an inheritance tax, which is significantly smaller,If you have not given up the money that is in a tax haven country, "said Johnny Hansen Schaadt, who believes that the bank may be called to account for tax if its advice has been too aggressive. But it depends on a concrete assessment in each case. <strong>Gold customers in the south</strong> For Sydbank it was an excellent way to withdraw money and earnings to the business in Sydbank Switzerland, focusing on wealthy "private banking customers", because it was often the villas on the Costa del Sol, there were 7-10 million. AUD worth. And it gives good returns to the bank to invest one million customers' wealth.   Finten put so much in the system that Sydbank hired intermediaries or between men and paid them to lure customers to the bank. There were also created ads, which were advertised that Danes could turn their home equity if they had property in Spain or France. The following text was such spent in a private banking ad targeting Danes with home ownership in Spain: "By borrowing against your property and invest your equity, you have a unique opportunity to optimize your inheritance and property."   It all happened while Sydbank had no banking license to the Spanish banking market. It is allowed to serve foreign customers, who turn to a Swiss bank, but it is not allowed to actively seek out customers in countries where you do not have a banking license. It was also Sydbank perception, according to the internal communication from Sydbank. Among other things, therefore changed Sydbank practice over time, so the very aggressive advertising with advertisements for belåningsfinten was replaced by ads where you only advertised Sydbank as fire. The Danish advisory tax accountant Christen Amby (SF) is not surprised Sydbank steps: "It's the kind of maneuvers which banks live on. They imagine their customers into thinking that they can make money in such a maneuver, and so serves Sydbank both to disseminate the loan and to manage their assets. But in practice, the customer is probably poorer . Can the bank so even getting people to believe that they can save tax, including cheat death duties in Spain, so it's perfect. " <strong> Customers must provide</strong> Christen Amby says that it is primarily the bank's customers who break the law if they fail to declare that they have a fortune standing in Switzerland.For Sydbank he should now be apparent from the bank accounts that part of the bank's business concept is based on helping customers to cheat on taxes, and it is probably difficult to reconcile with the bank's CSR policy (Corporate Social Responsibility), he believes. Even though it is the Spanish tax authorities, who cheated. The Swiss Financial FINMA has a circular to the country's banks made aware of the importance of preserving the Swiss banking sector's reputation. It is notable that banks "should not contribute to tax evasion and similar submittal of incomplete or misleading evidence." Spokesman Tobias Lux from FINMA will not deny that banks operating in the country, must help with tax optimization in other countries. But, he says, banks must comply with Swiss and local laws. "No matter how Swiss banks offer financial services, they must follow Swiss law. In addition, the bank must also follow the local rules, but generally it is up to local authorities to enforce this. That said, the violation of foreign law by Swiss Banks may also be a breach of Swiss banking regulations. " <strong> Requirement of propriety</strong> According to Tobias Lux is not necessarily illegal for a bank in the country to help foreigners with tax speculation. Yet it is something we will look at: "It would obviously be interested in us. Violations of foreign law by Swiss banks may be a breach of Swiss banking regulations such. Requirement to ensure that its business is conducted in an orderly way," said Tobias Lux, although it would not comment on the case. Senior adviser and expert in banking, Lars Krull from Aalborg University believes that such lending models may be excellent business for banks, which can often earn more than £ 100,000 per year. customer: "If they have mortgaged a house for example. 6 million. And leveraged money three times and then make a deal on asset, it can be a great business for the bank. On the other hand, it is also something worse, something if it goes wrong. " Sydbank did not want to comment on this article.   <strong>Original Article in Danish Below.</strong>   <h2>Sydbank på skattejagt uden banklicens</h2> Af PETER NYHOLM og JULIE H. TOFT Offentliggjort 10.01.12 kl. 06:56 <strong>Store spanske millionvillaer skulle belånes, for at Sydbank kunne sælge investeringsydelser og hive penge hjem til den schweiziske datterbank.</strong> Foto: HOUGAARD NIELS Sydbank havde ikke engang en spansk banklicens. Men det forhindrede ikke banken i at indrykke annoncer og betale mellemmænd for at tiltrække formuer fra rige udlændinge bosat i bl.a. Spanien til Sydbank Schweiz med hovedsæde i Alpebyen St. Gallen. Velhaverne skulle overbevises om det fornuftige i at belåne deres millionvillaer med et lavtforrentet dansk realkreditlån via Nykredit på Kalvebod Brygge i København. Pengene fra lånet blev overført til Sydbank Schweiz, som investerede pengene. Kunderne med bolig i Spanien og Frankrig blev stillet i udsigt, at investeringerne gav et højere afkast, end hvad realkreditlånet kostede i rente. Det kunne altså være en ekstra indtægt. Men det var reduktion af betaling af arveafgift i Spanien, som var den centrale årsag til belåningsfinten, fremgår det af intern kommunikation fra Sydbank, som Morgenavisen JyllandsPosten har haft adgang til. Ifølge flere kilder med tæt kendskab til schweizisk bankvæsen giver denne fidus kun mening, hvis man kan skjule sin formue bag den schweiziske bankhemmelighed. For når pengene er placeret i Schweiz, er det kundens ansvar at indberette deres eksistens til de relevante skattemyndigheder. <strong>Arveafgift</strong> Skattedirektør Johnny Schaadt Hansen fra Skats afdeling for Økonomisk Kriminalitet er bestemt ikke imponeret over modellen, hvis den benyttes af danskere med boliger på Solkysten: "Hvis du f.eks. har to børn hjemme i Danmark, som skal arve et hus i Spanien, der er belånt på den måde, er den reelle værdi af aktivet mindre. Så skal du også betale en arveafgift, der er væsentligt mindre, hvis du ikke har opgivet de penge, som står i et skattely-land," siger Johnny Schaadt Hansen, der mener, at banken kan blive stillet til ansvar af skat, hvis dens rådgivning har været for aggressiv. Men det kommer an på en konkret vurdering i hvert enkelt tilfælde. <strong>Guldkunder i syd</strong> For Sydbank var det en udmærket måde at trække penge og indtjening til forretningen i Sydbank Schweiz, der fokuserede på velhavende ”private banking kunder”, for det drejede sig ofte om villaer på Solkysten, der var 7-10 mio. kr. værd. Og det giver gode afkast til banken at investere kundernes millionformuer. Finten blev sat så meget i system, at Sydbank hyrede formidlere eller mellemmænd og betalte dem for at lokke kunder til banken. Der blev også oprettet annoncer, hvor der blev reklameret for, at danskere kunne aktivere deres friværdi, hvis de havde ejendomme i Spanien eller Frankrig. Følgende tekst blev bl.a. brugt i en private banking-annonce henvendt til danskere med ejerbolig i Spanien: "Ved at belåne din ejendom og investere din friværdi, har du en enestående mulighed for at optimere dine arve- og formueforhold." Det skete alt sammen, mens Sydbank ikke havde banklicens til det spanske bankmarked. Det er tilladt at betjene udenlandske kunder, som selv henvender sig til en schweizisk bank, men det er ikke tilladt aktivt at opsøge kunder i lande, hvor man ikke har banklicens. Det var også Sydbanks opfattelse, fremgår det af den interne kommunikation fra Sydbank. Bl.a. derfor ændrede Sydbank praksis over tid, så den meget aggressive annoncering med reklamer for belåningsfinten blev erstattet af annoncer, hvor man blot reklamerede for Sydbank som brand. Den danske rådgivende skatterevisor Christen Amby (SF) er ikke overrasket over Sydbanks fremgangsmåde: "Det er jo den slags manøvrer, som bankerne lever af. De bilder kunderne ind, at de kan tjene penge på en sådan manøvre, og så tjener Sydbank på både at formidle lånet og på at administrere formuen. Men i praksis bliver kunden formentlig fattigere. Kan banken så oven i købet få folk til at tro, at de kan spare skat, herunder snyde for arveafgift i Spanien, så er det helt perfekt." <strong>Kunder skal oplyse</strong> Christen Amby oplyser, at det først og fremmest er bankens kunder, som bryder loven, hvis de undlader at opgive, at de har en formue stående i Schweiz. For Sydbanks vedkommende bør det fremover fremgå af bankens årsregnskab, at en del af bankens forretningsgrundlag er baseret på at hjælpe kunderne med at snyde i skat, og det er formentlig svært at forene med bankens CSR-politik (Corporate Social Responsibility), mener han. Også selvom det er det spanske skattevæsen, der snydes. Det schweiziske finanstilsyn FINMA har i en rundskrivelse til landets banker gjort opmærksom på det vigtige i at bevare den schweiziske banksektors omdømme. Heraf fremgår det bl.a. at bankerne "ikke må medvirke til skatteunddragelse og lignende ved indlevering af ufuldstændig eller vildledende dokumentation." Talsmand Tobias Lux fra FINMA vil ikke afvise, at banker, der opererer i landet, må hjælpe med skatteoptimering i andre lande. Men, siger han, bankerne skal overholde schweizisk og lokal lovgivning. "Ligegyldigt, hvor schweiziske banker tilbyder finansielle services, skal de følge schweizisk lovgivning. Derudover skal banken også følge de lokale regler, men generelt er det op til de lokale myndigheder at håndhæve dette. Når det er sagt, kan brud på udenlandsk lovgivning af schweiziske banker også være brud på schweiziske bankregler." <strong>Krav om ordentlighed</strong> Ifølge Tobias Lux er det ikke nødvendigvis ulovligt, at en bank i landet hjælper udlændinge med skattespekulation. Alligevel er det noget, man vil kigge nærmere på: "Det vil selvfølgelig interessere os. Brud på udenlandsk lovgivning af schweiziske banker kan være brud på schweiziske bankregler som f.eks. kravet om at sikre, at bankens forretning bliver udført på en ordentlig måde," siger Tobias Lux, som dog ikke vil kommentere den konkrete sag. Seniorrådgiver og ekspert i banker Lars Krull fra Aalborg Universitet mener, at sådanne lånemodeller kan være fremragende forretninger for banker, der ofte kan tjene mere end 100.000 kr. om året pr. kunde: "Hvis de har belånt et hus med f.eks. 6 mio. kr., og gearet pengene tre gange i og derefter laver en aftale om kapitalforvaltning, så kan det være en fantastisk forretning for banken. Til gengæld er det også noget værre noget, hvis det går galt." Sydbank har ikke ønsket at kommentere denne artikel.  
      • post_titleSydbank treasure without a banking license
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      • post_date2012-01-05 13:56:01
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      • post_content<h1></h1> <table width="300" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img class="alignright" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 5px;" title="Fighting back against property tax in Spain" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/tax_bill.jpg" alt="Fighting back against property tax in Spain" width="300" height="196" align="right" border="0" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>• DAVE AND PHILIPPA STATON FELL VICTIM TO A SURPRISE 9,500 EURO BACK TAX</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Dave and Philippa Staton fell victim to a surprise 9,500 euro back tax after buying a two-bedroom apartment in Duquesa. It came after the local town hall wrongly applied a ‘completely unrealistic’ property value on the flat. The seven per cent property transfer tax – that is catching out numerous property buyers around Spain – is levied not on the actual price paid but on values set by the town hall often many years earlier. “These are usually well out of date and completely unfair,” explained Phillipa Staton, 44, a software developer from the West Midlands. Now, on appeal, the couple have had the bill reduced to just 60 euros. The problem has emerged as the inland revenue (Hacienda) has set minimum sale prices for tax purposes, despite property prices plummeting everywhere. It means many unsuspecting buyers later receiving an additional bill for the difference PLUS interest for late payment. “Three months after the sale was completed Hacienda demanded another 9,500 euros, and we went into a panic” explained Staton. “The valuation was ridiculously high and we were paying the same as someone who has a two bed villa. “So we paid for an official evaluation and it came back that we should only pay 300 euros more, which was close to what we had actually paid so in the end the bill was just 60 euros.” According to lawyer<strong> Roberto Sanchez</strong> from Marbella-based <strong>Lawbird</strong> it is a growing problem. “It has become a big issue with the recession, particularly here on the Costa del Sol which has one of the highest values in Spain,” he said. “The valuations are based on prices from a few years ago and with the current climate it has become ridiculous. “The valuations should fall to match the fact that prices have changed but it is beneficial to the town halls as they get more money. “It is absolutely scandalous. Some are charging thousands of euros extra tax and people think that it isn’t worth getting a lawyer to fight it but it can be.”
      • post_titleFighting back against property tax in Spain
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      • post_excerptA BRITISH couple have fought off an ‘extortionate’ property tax that threatens to put potential investors off buying in Spain.
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      • post_date2011-12-29 15:20:47
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      • post_contentRicardo Miranda, administrador único de Sun Golf Desarrollo Inmobiliario SL, la promotora investigada por una presunta estafa inmobiliaria a clientes de la Costa del Sol, adelantó 200.000 euros para adquirir una parcela en Estepona en la que le encargaron construir 400 viviendas, según declaró el miércoles en el Juzgado de Instrucción número 16 de Madrid. En la comparecencia aseguró también que devolvió los 12 millones de euros de potenciales clientes, que le había transferido la comercializadora Ocean View Properties, después de que el Ayuntamiento de Estepona le denegara la licencia. El juez le instó a acreditar la devolución de la cuantía, según señaló ayer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, el abogado titular de <strong>Lawbird</strong>, el despacho marbellí que representa a los casi 70 extranjeros, entre ingleses e irlandeses, afectados por la supuesta estafa de la promoción de Estepona. "Mis patrocinados defienden que no han percibido nada. No sé cómo hará Miranda para demostrar que realizó la devolución", señaló. Cada uno de los perjudicados adelantó unos 70.000 euros para comprar una de las viviendas que el promotor anunció que construiría en la localidad. Otros 50 afectados realizaron pagos similares para adquirir inmuebles que Miranda prometió en República Dominicana y Marruecos. Respecto a la promoción en el país caribeño, Miranda alegó ante el juez que entregará las viviendas, unas 8.000 según algunas informaciones, en 2013. El solar del proyecto fue propiedad de dos implicados en el Caso Malaya. El inicio de estas obras alcanzó una notable resonancia, ya que Miranda se fotografió con el presidente del país, Leonel Fernández, y el Príncipe Alberto de Mónaco. En relación al proyecto de Marruecos, reconoció que "no tenía ni parcela ni licencia".
      • post_titleEl acusado de estafar a 70 extranjeros dice que devolvió el dinero
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      • post_date2011-12-29 13:09:48
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      • post_contentEl promotor y administrador único de Sun Golf, Ricardo Miranda,<a href="http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/02/17/suvivienda/1297947448.html">imputado</a> el caso que lleva el mismo nombre y en el que se investiga una presunta estafa inmobiliaria a unas cien familias irlandesas, ha declarado que prestaba servicios a Ocean View Properties para la construcción de 400 viviendas, y que nunca tuvo relación con los clientes, ni física ni por escrito. El juicio, que tuvo lugar el pasado 21 en el juzgado de instrucción número 16 de Madrid, se celebró tras la querella presentada contra los directores de Sun Golf Desarrollo Inmobiliario S.L. y Ocean View Properties por presunta<strong> estafa y apropiación indebida </strong>por tres promociones fallidas en Estepona (Málaga), Marruecos y la República Dominicana. Respecto a la promoción de Estepona, Miranda declaró que<strong> "en ningún momento" tuvo ninguna relación con los clientes</strong>, ni físicamente ni por escrito, ni ha recibido "ninguna cantidad económica", según la declaración judicial a la que ha tenido acceso Efe. El querellado manifestó que hizo un<strong> acuerdo de prestación de servicios </strong>con Ocean View Properties, que tenía comprada la parcela en diciembre de 2004, y se personó en una notaría para escriturarla el 9 de septiembre de 2005 sin que el propietario hiciese lo propio. Miranda expuso que todos los contratos que se realizaron con los compradores los hizo Ocean View, con quien llegó a una acuerdo de prestación de servicios para que construyera 400 viviendas y que<strong> "al final de toda la promoción tendría un margen de un 8 % de beneficios".</strong> En cuanto a la parcela de Punta Perla, en la República Dominicana, Miranda dijo que la compañía es "propietaria de todos los terrenos y poseen licencias de todo tipo", y que los clientes tienen "una garantía sobre un terreno valorado en <strong>95 millones de dólares"</strong>, que "cubre con exceso" en el caso de que en 2013 no estén acabadas las viviendas. Sobre la parcela de Marruecos, manifestó que Ocean View Properties contactó con sus clientes para comunicarles "la iniciación de dicho proyecto", y que <strong>entraron sabiendo que "primero había que conseguir los terrenos</strong> y luego las licencias", por lo que recibían una bonificación del 50%. Los hechos se remontan a 2006, cuando la agencia inmobiliaria Ocean View Properties alcanzó un acuerdo de comercialización con la promotora Sun Golf Desarrollos Inmobiliarios SL por el que la primera <strong>se comprometía a captar a ahorradores británicos </strong>para invertir en esta promoción y la segunda se encargaba de construir los inmuebles. En el caso se han visto afectados casi un centenar de familias irlandesas e inglesas que han interpuesto una querella por una presenta estafa y apropiación indebida relacionada con la construcción de 350 apartamentos en la zona de Arroyo Vaquero, en Estepona (Málaga), que finalmente no se ejecutó.
      • post_titleEl acusado de estafar a unos 100 irlandeses con pisos dice que no tenía relación con los clientes
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      • post_date2011-11-27 18:49:09
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      • post_contentThe property developer Darragh MacAnthony is facing a criminal investigation in Spain after dozens of former customers complained that furniture they bought from one of his firms never materialised. MacAnthony Realty International (MRI) developed resorts in several countries and sold furniture packs to clients, 50 of whom filed a claim in Madrid in June. This group of Irish and British investors and buyers claim that €492,000 worth of furniture, ordered more than five years ago for apartments in Morocco, Bulgaria and Cape Verde, was never delivered. Under Spanish law, members of the public are entitled to initiate criminal procedure in some cases. The complaint was referred to a court in Marbella, where it was recently accepted. A judge will hear evidence from the claimants in January, then decide whether MacAnthony and five other defendants should face charges of “misappropriation of funds and theft by swindle”. Antonio Flores, the group’s Spanish lawyer, claims “many other” MRI customers are affected. He alleges that missing furniture is just one of the irregularities linked to MRI, or related companies such as MRI Overseas Property. Flores says that he is preparing a further claim, totalling €15m, on behalf of 200 Irish and British MRI customers. MRI has consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing. In relation to undelivered furniture, the company has said the 2008 property crash forced several of its furniture suppliers out of business and it had to engage new ones — effectively paying twice for the same furniture order. But Flores claims at least two companies “were driven into insolvency by the ripple in the supply chain caused by MacAnthony”. MRI, headquartered in Marbella, became a giant in the holiday-home market prior to the global property crisis and made the 35-year-old Dubliner a multi-millionaire. It had hundreds of Irish customers. Among the claimants are John and Muriel Andrews from Ballycarry, Co Antrim. After talking to MRI at a Belfast holiday-home exhibition in 2006, the Andrews paid deposits on two apartments on the west African archipelago of Cape Verde. “Everything seemed to go well until a phone call from Global Home Services — a branch of MRI — who said we should buy their furniture if we wanted to be ready to rent our apartments,” said Andrews, 62, a retired doctor. The couple say they paid €29,900 ion advance for two furniture packs, which were never delivered, and €895 for a lifetime after-sales service to cover “snagging” and other items. Problems then emerged, starting with a construction delay. Andrews said: “I kept emailing the furniture department and was being told the furniture would be delivered. In the autumn the MRI website announced furniture ordered over a year previously could be destroyed without compensation.” The Andrews say they asked MRI to “snag” their apartment but were referred to Solutions Overseas property consultants, which told them the service would cost another €900. Solutions Overseas was registered to MacAnthony’s brother-in-law, Wayne Mottley. He is the husband of Wendy MacAnthony, who fronted MRI’s television-marketing campaigns, which was listed at a Marbella address two doors from MRI. In 2005, MRI’s recommended mortgage providers Capital Financial Partners (CFP) was transferred from the sole administration of Darragh MacAnthony to Mottley. CFP was also registered to the same Costa del Sol street. MacAnthony, the chairman of Peterborough United football club, didn’t reply to questions from The Sunday Times last week regarding either the companies recommended by MRI or the allegations of wrong-doing. Mottley did not return calls. MacAnthony has previously said: “There are no foundations behind these allegations. I certainly didn’t do anything wrong and neither did anyone with MRI when I was there.” He also said: “I operated a company which did thousands of sales around the world with many happy clients, but will forever be haunted by the few hundred for which it didn’t work out.” <strong>Documents</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MacAnthony_Sunday_Times_Irish-edition_Nov_27b.pdf">Sunday Times Irish edition Nov 27 on MacAnthony</a> (PDF 2.5 Mbytes)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleClients sue resorts boss in Madrid
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      • post_date2011-11-25 19:18:34
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      • post_content<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-597" style="border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 25px;" title="abogados-defienden-ancianas-contra-bancos" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/abogados-defienden-ancianas-contra-bancos-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="150" />¿Denunciar al banco que me ha dejado en la ruina? “Imposible, la banca siempre gana…” Es el pensamiento más generalizado entre quienes sufren abusos por parte del sistema financiero, el de quienes descubren con amargura  que en su día no leyeron –o no comprendieron bien- el contrato que firmaron y ahora se han quedado sin ahorros o sin casa. Lo de la letra pequeña, ya se sabe, suele esconder sorpresas desagradables, sobresaltos que en el caso del ámbito financiero conllevan enormes disgustos. Así le ocurrió a una octogenaria valenciana que invirtió –siguiendo el consejo de su entidad, la CAM- en bonos del banco de inversión Lehman Brothers. A pesar de las reiteradas advertencias de la anciana avisando de que no quería arriesgar sus ahorros (134.395 euros), <strong>la firma la convenció para que realizara esa inversión y ella terminó perdiendo el dinero.</strong><strong></strong> Esta anciana tenía una amiga que había <strong>ganado <a href="http://api.ning.com/files/q8lB7QaDnANnqJANChdtzZPhrNy14yXN1CYE7dX9pdWReEvrGlPJG7OZnUBr9W1ZYfAskT93mU9F6mDlg3KR*wvjCNDmxBWk/sentenciaAPMurcia1abril2011bankinterKaupthing.pdf" target="_blank">un caso contra Bankinter</a> por una inversión ruinosa en un banco islandés</strong> y decidió recurrir a su mismo abogado para plantarle cara a la CAM. <a href="http://www.jaimenavarro.net/abogados/Noticias_files/SENTENCIA_(N.11-11-11)_ROLLO_APELACION_CIVIL_311-11-SEC._5%C3%82%C2%AA_AUDIENCIA_PROV._MURCIA-CARTAGENA.pdf" target="_blank">Y ganó</a>. Ambas han sido las primeras sentencias firmes dictadas en sus respectivos ámbitos en España. Ese abogado, <strong>Jaime Navarro, </strong>explica a <em>El Confidencial </em>cómo los bancos “te hacen firmar contratos detalladísimos, de 40 o 50 folios”, cuando se pide un préstamo y sin embargo, cuando se trata de realizar inversiones “sólo te dan una o dos hojas de información, <strong>un miserable documento que no habla de nada</strong>”. En su opinión, esta “desigualdad clamorosa” supone una injusticia, “máxime cuando los bancos han recibido ayudas públicas” y pone en evidencia <strong>la “lamentable” actitud de la banca para con sus clientes</strong>. Un sector que además no quiere ni oír hablar de pactos amistosos y ante el acercamiento de los abogados muestra una “cerrazón total” y una gran “prepotencia”. Navarro no lucha en solitario contra los abusos de las entidades financieras.<strong>Antonio Flores Vila</strong>, abogado del despacho<strong> Law Bird</strong> de Marbella, ha impulsado una <a href="http://share.lawbird.com/Public/Querella%20y%20Adjuntos%20completa.pdf" target="_blank">querella criminal</a> ante la Audiencia Nacional <strong>contra diez bancos internacionales por delitos de estafa y defraudación</strong> contra la Hacienda pública, de los que habrían sido víctimas unas ochocientas personas en España. <strong>Pensionistas asustados por su banco</strong> Las presuntas infracciones que se le imputan a estas entidades bancarias (escandinavas, suecas y británicas) son delitos continuados de publicidad engañosa, estafa, defraudación contra la hacienda pública, y falsedad ideológica en documento público. Como explica el propio Flores a <em>El Confidencial</em>, <strong>estos bancos se dedicaban a “asustar” a los pensionistas ingleses</strong> diciéndoles, entre otras cosas, que el impuesto de patrimonio español es “extorsionador” e “‘insolidario”, para justificar que sus hipotecas inversas fueran trasladadas a paraísos fiscales (principalmente Luxemburgo). “A algunos de nuestros clientes les han 'perdido' hasta el 80% de su inversión<strong>, eso no lo consigue ni Madoff robando</strong>”, denuncia Flores, que se confiesa “más cómodo” trabajando “del lado del consumidor”. En la misma línea trabaja <strong>Juan Ignacio Navas</strong>, co-fundador del despacho Navas & Cusí y cuya especialidad es desde hace años “la vigilancia de códigos de conducta en las entidades financieras”. Él cree que la falta de información por parte de los bancos hacia sus clientes es, más que una <em>mala praxis</em>, una conducta bastante extendida que consiste en "<strong>no ser totalmente conscientes de su deber de información</strong>”. Los principales errores atribuibles a la actitud general de la mayoría de los bancos son, en su opinión, el de omisión de información sobre los posibles riesgos, del deber de transparencia y la <strong>falta de diligencia en el cuidado de los intereses de los clientes</strong>, aunque él cree que se ha incurrido en ellos “sin ánimo de hacer daño”. <strong>La banca también pierde</strong> Navas recuerda que “<strong>en muchas ocasiones es el banco el que pierde</strong>”. “En el caso de que sea incorrecta la actividad de intermediación de los bancos, éstos pagan sus errores, y eso les puede salir muy caro”. Y más ahora que parece que la gente empieza a ser más consciente de sus derechos. Muchos de los clientes extranjeros del despacho marbellí, cuenta Flores, <strong>se sentían engañados y se preguntaban cómo no se habían dado cuenta del fraude</strong> antes de perder sus ahorros. Las ancianas a las que defiende Navarro se sentían desamparadas ante el gigante financiero, como David contra Goliat. Pero a la vista está que es posible ganar, y que “si se tiene razón hay que luchar porque si no, nunca cambiarán las cosas”, confirma el abogado. “Ahora que hay varias sentencias firmes y están teniendo algo de eco mediático, esperemos <strong>que la gente se desprenda de ese temor reverencial que tiene la sociedad a los bancos</strong>. Hay que pensar que se puede ganar”, zanja. Para ello Navarro ha redactado <a href="http://www.jaimenavarro.net/abogados/Afectados_por_bancos_files/LaGuia.pdf" target="_blank">una guía</a> dirigida a aquellos que se encuentran algo perdidos pero están dispuestos a “exigir responsabilidad a las entidades bancarias que <strong>sí tienen obligación de dar debida cuenta de la gestión de su dinero</strong>”. La primera recomendación de la mayoría de los expertos es la de intentar negociar con el banco, aunque, dado que hasta ahora este abogado no ha tenido “ningún éxito en los intentos de acuerdos amistosos”, es muy probable que el cliente que se sienta injustamente tratado tenga que recurrir, efectivamente, a esta guía y a los servicios de un letrado.
      • post_titleEstos son los abogados que defienden a las ancianas y vencen a la banca
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      • post_excerptYA HAY VARIAS SENTENCIAS FIRMES EN ESPAÑA QUE CONDENAN A ENTIDADES FINANCIERAS
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          • post_date2011-11-27 19:28:01
          • post_date_gmt2011-11-27 18:28:01
          • post_content
          • post_titleabogados-defienden-ancianas-contra-bancos
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  • 101(array)
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      • ID584
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-18 14:17:31
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-18 13:17:31
      • post_content<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-585" style="border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 20px 10px 20px 20px;" title="Darragh-MacAnthony" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Darragh-MacAnthony.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="320" />The British and Irish victims will tell a judge at Marbella court how MacAnthony’s company MRI failed to deliver over half a million euros of furniture to them. Judge Juan Carlos Palma Diaz is investigating whether the Peterborough Chairman should face charges of ‘fraud’. “The claimants have been ordered to come to Spain as the judge wants to depose them, together,” explained lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, who is representing the claimants. “It is an exceptional request and a special room to fit them all is going to have to be arranged. “This is bad news for MacAnthony,” explained the boss of company <strong>Lawbird</strong>. “The next step is to see if he wishes to settle.” <p dir="ltr" align="justify">The alleged victims – who filed a claim in Madrid in June – accuse MacAnthony, 35, of keeping 600,000 euros which they paid for furniture packages for homes in Bulgaria, Turkey and Morocco.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="justify">MacAnthony faces legal action alongside his former chief executives Michael Liggan and Dominic Pickering for ‘theft by swindle and misappropriation of funds’.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="justify">All three have consistently denied any wrongdoing.</p> The hearing is set to take place in January 2012.
      • post_title51 expats summoned to give evidence in MacAnthony probe in Spain
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptA STAGGERING 51 expats have been summoned to court to give evidence against property millionaire Darragh MacAnthony.
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:09
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          • post_date2011-11-18 14:15:44
          • post_date_gmt2011-11-18 13:15:44
          • post_content
          • post_titleDarragh-MacAnthony
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          • post_modified2011-11-18 14:15:44
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  • 102(array)
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      • ID573
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-16 17:59:42
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-16 16:59:42
      • post_content[caption id="attachment_574" align="alignright" width="300" caption="A launch party for the equity release product hosted by Rothschild bank and unregulated IFA Henry Wood"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-574" title="Rothschild party with unregulated IFA Henry Wood" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rothschild_2056513c-party-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" />[/caption] <div> It represents a test case for at least 800 British pensioners across France, Spain and Portugal who bought into equity release schemes in the belief that by remortgaging their properties and allowing the money to be invested offshore, their children's inheritance tax liability would be mitigated while they would receive a lump sum and a regular investment return to cover the new mortgage. </div> <div> According to Mr Flores it is illegal to knowingly indebt oneself by remortgaging one's property in order to invest offshore and mitigate Spain's inheritance tax, and as a result the equity release product should never have been sold. </div> <div> For the expats represented by Mr Flores, their offshore investments have depreciated in value and the banks, including Denmark's biggest bank Danske Bank and Nordea Bank SA, are threatening to repossess homes used as collateral against the loans. </div> <div> The lawyer acting on behalf of the <a href="http://erva.es/" target="_blank">British expat pensioners</a>, Antonio Flores of <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/" target="_blank">Lawbird Legal Services</a>, has taken the case to the Madrid's Audiencia Nacional, or high court, alleging that his clients were duped by unregulated financial advisors who worked in conjunction with the ten banks, of which the majority are Nordic. </div> <div> He has asked for the application of all equity release contracts to be suspended and an investigation into the legality of the product and the role of the banks to be started. It remains to be seen if the recent decision made in a separate case by a Malaga high court judge who ordered Icelandic bank Landsbanki to return a British couple's home, clear their debts and pay €25,000 in compensation will set the precedent. "Of course, the high rates of inheritance tax in Spain are a major concern to expat British pensioners and these so-called financial advisors," Mr Flores told Telegraph Expat, "many of whom were unregulated, took advantage of this concern and misled them. "One firm of international financial advisors in particular, Henry Woods, has been on the equivalent of <a href="http://www.cnmv.es/portal/advertenciaslistado.aspx?tipoAdv=1&page=2&sortExpression=Fecha&sortDirection=0" target="_blank">Spain's FSA blacklist</a> since 2003 for providing investment services without authorisation, yet British bank Rothschild appeared alongside the firm in sales literature and at promotional parties at hotels (pictured) in which pensioners were invited along to learn about these equity schemes." While Guernsey-based NM Rothschild & Sons accepts it provided loans to a number of pensioners to fund the remortgaging of their homes and the investment in offshore funds, it has distanced itself from the advisors who brokered the equity release schemes. A spokesman for Rothschild said: “Rothschild is confident that the Spanish courts will agree that there has been no wrongdoing on its part in relation to allegations being made against a number of banks by a lawyer in Spain. "Whilst Rothschild has previously provided loans to a number of Spanish property owners its role was as a lender only. The bank had no part in providing investment or tax advice to borrowers. The borrowers were advised by their IFAs in Spain, who received no commission from the bank.” </div>
      • post_titleExpats take on Rothschild over equity release schemes
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptA Spanish lawyer has taken legal action against ten banks, including British bank Rothschild, for their funding of equity release schemes that have left hundreds of British pensioners at risk of losing their homes in Spain.
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          • post_date2011-11-16 17:56:45
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          • post_content
          • post_titleRothschild party with unregulated IFA Henry Wood
          • post_category0
          • post_excerptA launch party for the equity release product hosted by Rothschild bank and unregulated IFA Henry Wood
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  • 103(array)
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      • ID577
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-16 15:03:58
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-16 14:03:58
      • post_contentA LAWSUIT has been launched against 10 foreign banks in Spain for alleged fraud, according Spanish daily<em>ABC</em> reports. The banks, eight of them Scandinavian, allegedly made their retired clients who resided on the Costa del Sol believe that in Spain, if someone dies without a mortgage on their home, the inheritance tax is so high that the heirs would never be able to pay. Marbella law firm Lawbird is representing more than 25 clients on the Costa del Sol and Alicante area who have taken their case against the banks to the National Court for fraud, misleading advertising, tax fraud amounting to around €50 million and document falsification. The alleged scam was in operation between 2004 and 2008, and it is estimated that some 800 people could have fallen for it. Some 17 bank managers and false financial agents will face charges if the case goes ahead. When the potential victims bought a home, they were contacted by financial advisors who then put them in touch with the banks, which offered to lend them an amount almost identical to the value of their homes and the loan was signed. The money (up to €250 million from all affected clients) was then sent to Luxembourg, being a tax haven, while the clients were assured that if it was there, their heirs would have no problem inheriting. The clients would only receive part of the money but thought the rest would be safe until they died. However, they were later contacted by the bank to inform them that their investment was not producing the financial gains expected and that they would have to cover the losses. After that, their mortgaged houses were due to be repossessed by the banks, although two have been prevented by Malaga courts.
      • post_titleEx-pats in Spain sue banks for alleged fraud
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptA Spanish lawyer has taken legal action against ten banks, including British bank Rothschild, for their funding of equity release schemes that have left hundreds of British pensioners at risk of losing their homes in Spain.
      • post_statuspublish
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      • post_nameex-pats-in-spain-sue-banks-for-alleged-fraud
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:09
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      • ID568
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-11 00:00:48
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-10 23:00:48
      • post_content<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-569" style="margin: 25px; border: 1px solid black;" title="antonio-flores-lawbird-press" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/antonio-flores-lawbird-press-300x194.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="194" />Euan Armstrong is British, 74 years old and lives on the Costa del Sol. After living here for many years he says his only link he has with Britain is his passport. Mr Armstrong is about to lose his home, a house in which he invested his life savings when he first moved to Spain. He has had to go back to work to try and pay off his debts which have resulted from a fraud into which he, and around 800 people across Spain were drawn, it is called a Foreign Reverse Mortgage, a product that has nothing to do with the Reverse Mortgages available in Spain (hipoteca inversa). «The Foreign Reverse Mortgage had a speculative element, it invited foreign pensioners to defraud the Tax Office." explains Antonio Flores, a solicitor from Lawbird Legal Services who is representing 20 cases on the Costa del Sol. The scam was headed by foreign banks and financial advisors, the majority of them Danish, who had been working in Spain for several years, many of them, according to Flores, without authorisation of the CNMV (National Market Securities Commission). Their objective was to raise large amount s of money which was then invested in tax free havens like Luxembourg and the Channel Islands. The victims were established retired foreigners from the Costa del Sol to the Costa Blanca and in the Balearic and Canary Islands who were offered the possibility of a mortgage for more than the value of their home. The money would then be invested outside Spain, preferably Luxembourg, and they could live off the comfortable cushion that that would provide. ''The victims were sent leaflets saying: that the Spanish Tax office charged abusive amounts of tax and warning of the high inheritance tax, of 70 - 80 per cent that would be due on their properties if they did not have a mortgage, said Flores. It is estimated that between 2004 and 2009 about 800 contracts were signed in Spain, with a Spanish notary. According to Antonio Flores, the money was invested in stocks and shares which in a very short time started to lose money.  In Euan Armstrong's case his house was valued at one million euros and he has lost 80 per cent. Ian Sherdley who was also affected by the scam, has lost two of the four million euros which his house was valued at. The solicitors acting for the affected home owners have said that it is very worrying that the banks and financial companies involved tried to defend the tax fraud by issuing "specific guides on how retired foreigners could increase their wealth in Spain". Nearly all the financial agents involved in the fraud have already left the country. <strong></strong> <strong>Download</strong> <ul><li><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LAWBIRD-2011-11-Sur-in-English-Tax-Frauad-Equity-Release.pdf">LAWBIRD-2011-11-Sur-in-English-Tax-Frauad-Equity-Release</a> (PDF)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleTax fraud threatens homes of retired foreign residents
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptForeign banks encouraged retired foreigners to take out mortgages and invest the money in tax havens like Luxembourg
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:09
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          • post_date2011-11-13 14:06:41
          • post_date_gmt2011-11-13 13:06:41
          • post_content
          • post_titleantonio-flores-lawbird-press
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  • 105(array)
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      • ID563
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-10 13:36:30
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-10 12:36:30
      • post_content<a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/antonio-flores.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-564" style="margin: 25px; border: 1px solid black;" title="antonio-flores" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/antonio-flores-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>As reported in the Olive Press, victims of illegal equity release schemes formed the Equity Release Victims Association in September to put a stop to Scandinavian banks ‘robbing’ expats of their property. Now, a group of some 25 foreign residents, backed by <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> from the Marbella based firm <strong>Lawbird</strong>, have filed a lawsuit in the High Court in Madrid for the crimes of fraud and false advertising. Moreover they are appealing for the ‘illegal’ contracts – taken out between 2004 and 2008 – to be declared null and void. “This scheme is criminal,” explained Flores. “I can see how much people are suffering from it. It is seriously damaging their health and eroding their well-being, and it has absolutely got to finish. <div>“These people are at a time in their life when you can’t make money, you only have what you have and these banks have taken that away.</div> “As far as the banks are concerned it was a very lucrative contract. They took a commission every time they switched stock and made money even if it lost. “But the way they sold it was completely illegal and it was reckless and careless,” he added. It comes after foreign banks, mostly Scandinavian, convinced predominately retired foreigners to take out ‘predatory mortgages’ on their homes at a value way above the level of the official appraisal. Victims were lured in by the false hope they could reduce inheritance tax for their loved ones – who would eventually be liable to pay Spain’s top rate of 34 per cent – and enjoy a salary for life by investing in financial havens such as Luxembourg. But the scam – which could have as many as 600 victims and it estimated at a staggering 250 million euros – has left many of them penniless. “Equity release is not safe and a loan against the property with the idea of hiding the money in an offshore account is certainly illegal in Spain,” explained Euan Armstrong, 74, the association Chairman and a victim of the scam. “We must stop these banks stealing our money.”
      • post_titleVictims of illegal equity release scam in Spain take the banks to court
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptEXPATS who face losing their homes after being duped in a 250 million euro illegal equity release scam are stepping up their fight against the banks and taking them to court.
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      • post_namevictims-of-illegal-equity-release-scam-in-spain-take-the-banks-to-court
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:09
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          • post_date2011-11-13 13:38:42
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          • post_titleantonio-flores
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  • 106(array)
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      • ID544
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-09 14:00:44
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-09 13:00:44
      • post_content<div>A group of some twenty foreign residents of the Costa del Sol have denounced a fraud under which they could lose their homes. They have formed a platform to denounce a mortgage fraud which had the objective of getting large amounts of money which was then invested in financial havens such as Luxembourg or the Channel Islands.</div> There were foreign victims, mostly all retired, along the entire Spanish coastline and on the islands, from the Costa del Sol to the Costa Blanca, Baleares and Canaries. The scam was headed by foreign banks and foreign financial advisors, nearly all from Denmark, who had been working for some years in Spain, many without the correct authorisation of the National Commission for Market Values. They told the foreigners purchasing property that they had to get a mortgage as otherwise they would be hit with high Spanish taxes. The sales patter for these inverted mortgages claimed that residents’ homes were in danger from the Spanish taxman, claiming Spain would claim between 70 or 80% in succession tax. In effect the scheme invited the foreigners to defraud the Spanish Hacienda tax authorities. The lawyer representing those affected in Málaga, Antonio Flores, from Lawbird in Marbella, said the victims signed up for ‘predatory mortgages’ which offered the possibility of mortgaging their homes for nearly five years at a value above the level of the official appraisal and investing the money outside Spain, mostly in Luxembourg, in order to obtain a profit which covered their costs and gave them an extra payment. Some 800 contracts for the scheme were taken out between 2004 and 2009, and now the foreigners’ platform on the Costa del Sol is appealing to the National Court that those contracts be declared null and void. The total fraud is estimated at 250 million €. The mortgages were signed in Spain, with Spanish notaries and the investment contracts were signed in offices which the financial agents had in Spain, or in some cases in the client’s home. Nearly all those offices are now closed and the financial agents implicated have abandoned Spain. The clients’ money went on the purchase of currency or bank bonds in operations which soon lost money, leaving many of them now facing the possibility of losing their homes. Read more: <a href="http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_32629.shtml#ixzz1daDtm7Vi">http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_32629.shtml#ixzz1daDtm7Vi</a>
      • post_titleHundreds of foreign residents could lose their homes after mortgage scam in Spain
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptForeign banks advised them to purchase their home with a mortgage and invest the rest of the money in financial havens in order to avoid the Spanish tax manLawyer Antonio Flores from Lawbird Marbella.
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      • ID551
      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-11-09 13:16:18
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-09 12:16:18
      • post_contentTodo empezó con un bulo difundido entre británicos asentados en las zonas costeras que aseguraba que la fiscalidad española era tan severa que el Estado se quedaría con sus casas cuando murieran porque sus herederos no podrían pagar los impuestos. Corría 2002 y comenzaron a proliferar chiringuitos financieros que organizaban partidas de golf o fiestas en las que les ofrecían productos financieros para evitar esta situación. <div> <div>Unos 40 de estos jubilados extranjeros están hoy pleiteando con nueve bancos, ninguno español, a los que deben pagar fuertes sumas de dinero si no quieren perder sus casas. El lunes interpusieron una querella en la Audiencia Nacional y pidieron que los contratos, firmados en España, queden en suspenso.</div> </div> Los afectados aseguran que les convencieron para que hipotecasen las casas que tenían en la costa andaluza, Levante, Baleares o Canarias, para esquivar el Impuesto de Patrimonio y el Impuesto de Sucesiones. El plan era pedir un préstamo hipotecario con cargo a la propiedad y después enviar ese dinero a un paraíso fiscal, principalmente Luxemburgo. Así cuando murieran, la vivienda figuraría como pendiente de pago y el heredero debería pagar menos. El dinero se invertiría y con el beneficio pagarían las cuotas. Pero las inversiones salieron mal y perdieron entre el 30% y el 70% del capital. Los afectados han formado la Asociación de Víctimas de la Hipoteca Inversa. "Pensaban que era planificación fiscal para ahorrar dinero. Para captarles invocaban legislación española sesgada o nombres de despachos punteros", explica <strong>Antonio Flores,</strong> abogado que les representa. La cantidad supuestamente estafada ronda los 20 millones, según cálculos del despacho marbellí <strong>Lawbird</strong>. Flores estima que en España hay 500 afectados que podrían haber perdido 250 millones. Unos 200 ya han denunciado su situación en diferentes juzgados. La querella acusa a los agentes inmobiliarios y a los nueve bancos de publicidad engañosa, estafa o delitos contra la Hacienda Pública, entre otros. Entre los implicados está el Danske Bank, uno de los más importantes de Dinamarca; Landsbanki, en quiebra; o Roschild, cuyos colaboradores figuraban en las listas negras de entidades no autorizadas para intermediar en la venta de productos financieros.  
      • post_title40 jubilados extranjeros denuncian una trama para estafarles sus ahorros
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      • post_date2011-11-09 11:22:59
      • post_date_gmt2011-11-09 10:22:59
      • post_content<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-558" style="margin: 25px; border: 1px solid black;" title="2011-11-08_IMG_2011-11-08_23-15-54_querellamarbella2_13_local_1" src="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011-11-08_IMG_2011-11-08_23-15-54_querellamarbella2_13_local_1.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="199" />Una veintena de británicos residentes en la costa malagueña y valenciana se han querellado contra una decena de bancos extranjeros. Los litigantes se declaran víctimas de una estafa financiera e inmobiliaria. La mayoría de estas entidades, buena parte escandinavas, nunca tuvieron oficina en España pero operaron entre 2004 y 2009 en el país. Les ofrecieron seguridad económica para sus descendientes, pese a no contar con ahorros. La estrategia consistía en convencerles de que la Agencia Tributaria cobraría unos elevados impuestos a sus hijos y nietos para poder heredar los bienes que mantenían fuera de su país, en este caso su vivienda. Seguidamente, les invitaban a hipotecarla por la totalidad de su valor, tasado para la ocasión al alza. El banco ofrecía un préstamo hipotecario e invertía los fondos en un paraíso fiscal, en este caso en Luxemburgo, explicó ayer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, abogado de los afectados, representados por el despacho <strong>Lawbird</strong>, que tiene su sede en Marbella. <strong>Fraude fiscal</strong> «La trama estaba invitando, siempre a pensionistas británicos, a defraudar a Hacienda», señaló Flores, quien calcula que el número de víctimas puede rondar las 800 y las cantidades estafadas superan los 250 millones de euros. «De ellos, la presunta defraudación a Hacienda rondaría el 20%, entre los 50 y los 75 millones de euros», indicó. La querella, presentada ante la Audiencia Nacional, acusa a las entidades bancarias de ser supuestas autoras de los delitos de estafa, publicidad engañosa, falsedad en documento público, delito continuado contra la Hacienda Pública e incluso acoso inmobiliario. Puede haber un total de 17 responsables bancarios, además de agentes inmobiliarios, implicados en esta presunta trama. Todos ellos estaban advertidos por la Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores, aseguró el letrado. Esto significa que eran conscientes de que el producto que ofertaban no era legal. Los afectados han constituido una asociación para reclamar sus derechos. En la querella presentada y pendiente ahora de ser admitida a trámite, lo que piden es que se declaren nulos los contratos de los préstamos hipotecarios que firmaron, ante notario, para que no se ejecuten. Las víctimas han llegado a perder, no sólo su vivienda, sino hasta el 80% del dinero calculado por el valor de la misma. «Porque además de estafadores, eran pésimos inversores», destacó Flores ayer.
      • post_titleVeinte extranjeros denuncian un fraude en la Costa del Sol
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptEn toda España el número de británicos afectados podría ascender a 800 y la cantidad defraudada, a 250 millones
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          • post_date2011-11-13 13:27:58
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      • post_date2011-11-08 22:11:44
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      • post_content<div> El despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, ha presentado una querella criminal ante la Audiencia Nacional contra diez bancos internacionales por delitos de estafa y defraudación contra la Hacienda pública, de las que han sido víctimas unas ochocientas personas en España. El abogado del despacho <strong>Lawbird</strong>, ubicado en Marbella (Málaga),<strong> Antonio Flores Vila</strong>, ha dado a conocer hoy en conferencia de prensa la querella interpuesta el pasado 6 de noviembre, junto con el presidente de la Asociación de Víctimas de la Hipoteca Inversa Extranjera, Evan Armstrong, y el vicepresidente, Ian Sherdley. El letrado ha manifestado que su despacho atiende a "veinticinco clientes" por este tema, aunque cree que podría haber unos 800 afectados que "intentan negociar con el banco". Los bancos querellados son diez, ocho de origen escandinavo, entre los que se encuentran Danske Bank, Nordea Bank, Lex Life & Pension, Landsbanki, Jyske Bank, Finansbanken,Nykredit, Sydbank, uno de procedencia británica, N M Rothschild & Sons, y otro de nacionalidad suiza, Swiss Life. Las presuntas infracciones que se le imputan a estas entidades bancarias son delitos continuados de publicidad engañosa, estafa, defraudación contra la hacienda pública, y falsedad ideológica en documento público. <h4>Trama desde 2004</h4> Según ha explicado Flores, la trama se origina en el año 2004 entre bancos extranjeros a través de una "red de agentes financieros" que desplegaron una "campaña de captación de recursos" en la Costa del Sol, que tenía como objetivo a extranjeros con viviendas sin hipoteca con "cierta capacidad económica" y "sin mucha liquidez", principalmente pensionistas. El presunto delito consiste en ofertar a los clientes un producto conocido como "hipoteca inversa", una simulación donde se "traban hipotecas" en viviendas ya pagadas o sin hipotecar para ceder préstamos a los clientes que son "llevados a paraísos fiscales", principalmente Luxemburgo. "Te venden un producto diciéndote que es asistencial, cuando es absolutamente especulativo, además te lo venden con la excusa necesaria de que te vas a ahorrar los impuestos, que los impuestos españoles son tan caros, que si no haces algo, vas a perder tu vivienda", ha destacado Flores. <h4>Fraude a Hacienda</h4> "Por el número de personas defraudadas, el importe medio de las viviendas es de doscientos cincuenta millones de euros en dinero que se ha detraído de las viviendas de los extranjeros", ha asegurado el jurista. Por otro lado, Flores ha declarado que el importe medio de defraudación a la Hacienda pública se calcula en torno a "cincuenta y setenta y cinco millones de euros". El dinero de las víctimas se destinaba a inversiones en mercados financieros que han derivado en bonos japoneses, coronas checas, francos suizos, en monedas, en divisas, bonos de otros bancos_, ha asegurado el letrado, donde los clientes "lo han perdido todo". Flores ha señalado que la hipoteca inversa española es un producto asistencial destinado a la tercera edad que permite generar ingresos a través de dos vías, la pensión vitalicia, donde el cliente vende su casa al banco y percibe a cambio una paga mensual, y la hipoteca inversa, con la que la entidad da un préstamo que es garantizado con una hipoteca. La diferencia entre estos servicios bancarios y los ofertados por las entidades querelladas consiste en que "no pueden echarte de tu casa" y que el dinero obtenido "no se invierte para especular en el mercado". </div> <div> <ul> <li>  <div id="buscarrelacionadas"> <div>BÚSQUEDAS RELACIONADAS</div> </div></li> </ul> </div>
      • post_titleUn despacho de abogados presenta una querella contra diez bancos por estafa
      • post_category0
      • post_excerptPor delitos de estafa y defraudación contra la Hacienda pública, de las que han sido víctimas unas 800 personas en España
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      • post_date2011-11-08 20:01:25
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      • post_content<div><img title="El abogado Antonio Flores junto a uno de los afectados por la estafa. | Javier Martín" src="http://estaticos04.cache.el-mundo.net/elmundo/imagenes/2011/11/08/andalucia_malaga/1320781417_0.jpg" alt="El abogado Antonio Flores junto a uno de los afectados por la estafa. | Javier Martín" width="470" height="313" border="0" />El abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> junto a uno de los afectados por la estafa. | Javier Martín </div> <div id="desarrollo_noticia"> <div> <ul> <li>Ofrecían hipotecar viviendas libres de cargas a jubilados</li> <li>El fraude, cometido en distintas provincias, se elevaría a 250 millones de euros</li> </ul> </div> <div>Actualizado <strong>miércoles 09/11/2011</strong> <strong>08:27 horas</strong></div> Su estrategia consistía en <strong>sembrar temor entre jubilados extranjeros residentes en la Costa del Sol</strong>. Diversas entidades bancarias, en su mayoría escandinavas, con departamentos de banca privada en Luxemburgo, hacían creer a sus víctimas que en España, si alguien muere sin tener una hipoteca sobre su vivienda, el fisco grava de tal manera la sucesión que los herederos nunca podrían abonar los impuestos correspondientes. <div id="tamano"> El despacho de abogados <strong>Lawbird</strong>, con sede en Marbella, representa a<strong>más de una veintena de residentes</strong> en el litoral malagueño y alicantino que han presentado una querella en la Audiencia Nacional por presuntos delitos de estafa, publicidad engañosa, defraudación a la Hacienda Pública, así como falsedad en documento público. Además, los denunciantes creen que existe "acoso inmobiliario", tal y como ha explicado este martes el abogado <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> en rueda de prensa. Han creado una asociación de víctimas por la llamada "hipoteca inversa extranjera". La presunta trama financiera comenzó a operar en 2004 y se prolongó en el tiempo hasta finales de 2008. Flores calcula que en España puede haber unas 500 parejas, matrimonios jubilados en su mayoría, que cayeron en esta red fraudulenta a través de "publicidad engañosa". El total de <strong>fondos evadidos a Luxemburgo son "unos 250 millones de euros"</strong>, según el letrado. Dicha cantidad es la que los denunciados hacían creer a sus víctimas como exenta de impuestos si se heredaba en un paraíso fiscal. La presunta defraudación a Hacienda rondaría el 20%, unos 50 millones de euros. Unos <strong>17 responsables bancarios</strong>, así como agentes financieros, que no eran tales y estaban advertidos por la Comisión Nacional de Mercado de Valores (CNMV), figuran como querellados en el escrito presentado el pasado 7 de noviembre en dicho tribunal, a la espera de que un juez lo admita a trámite e incoe diligencias previas. Euan Armstrong, de 74 años de edad cuenta su caso: "Yo compré mi vivienda en Alhaurín el Grande por unos 600.000 euros y un agente financiero se puso en contacto conmigo. <strong>Me alarmó mucho, al decirme lo que me ocurriría en España </strong>si no hipotecaba mi casa, de cara al impuesto de sucesiones". Este ciudadano escocés cuenta que le hicieron creer que si fallecía sin haber reducido la valoración de su propiedad, a los efectos del impuesto de sucesiones, <strong>la cuota tributaria sería tan alta que sus hijos nunca podrían heredar</strong>. Fue entonces cuando el agente financiero le puso en contacto con el banco danés Danske Bank. Dicha entidad se ofreció a prestarle un importe casi idéntico al valor de la vivienda. Acto seguido <strong>se tasaba la casa y se procedía a firmar una escritura de préstamo hipotecario</strong>. Los fondos se invertían luego en un paraíso fiscal, en este caso Luxemburgo. Se trata del destino donde acabaron la mayoría de las cantidades defraudadas a los afectados. Del millón de euros que le prestaron a Armstrong, le entregaron 100.000 y el resto se lo llevaron a Luxemburgo, con el propósito de invertirlo, "lucrarse y especular", añade el letrado denunciante. <strong>"El valor de la vivienda suponía los ahorros de toda mi vida"</strong>. Esta ha sido una frase muy repetida entre la representación de víctimas que han acudido a la rueda de prensa celebrada en el citado bufete. Todos estos residentes en la Costa del Sol pensaban que los fondos que acabaron en el mencionado paraíso fiscal estaban custodiados, con toda garantía, hasta su fallecimiento. "Empezamos a recibir llamadas, cartas, correos electrónicos y visitas personales de empleados de Danske Bank. Nos decían que nuestras inversiones no estaban rindiendo como ellos querían". Se les advertía de que deberían cubrir las pérdidas generadas. Lo peor estaba por llegar. Poco a poco se fueron sucediendo las <strong>ejecuciones hipotecarias, instadas por los bancos para quedarse con las viviendas</strong>. Además del citado banco danés hay otros tres del mismo país involucrados: <strong>Nykredit, Sydbank y Jyske Bank</strong>. El resto son Nordea Bank (Suecia); NM Rothschild & Sons (Reino Unido); Lex Life&Pension (Luxemburgo); Landsbanki (Islandia) y Swiss Life (Suiza). Flores asegura que hasta el momento <strong>han podido paralizar dos procedimientos de ejecución hipotecaria</strong>. Lo han hecho en distintos juzgados malagueños que han accedido a su solicitud. </div> </div>
      • post_titleQuerella contra bancos extranjeros por una presunta estafa en la Costa del Sol
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      • post_modified2014-05-05 19:06:09
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          • post_titleEl abogado Antonio Flores junto a uno de los afectados por la estafa. | Javier Martín
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      • post_date2011-10-03 12:17:39
      • post_date_gmt2011-10-03 11:17:39
      • post_content<img class="alignright" style="margin: 25px; border: 1px solid black;" src="http://www.coastrider.net/images/stories/2011/Ed398/EUAN_ARMSTRONG_450.jpg" alt="EUAN_ARMSTRONG_450" width="360" height="239" />An expat is taking Denmark’s biggest bank to court after it persuaded him to use his Spanish property as collateral in an equity release scheme – and cost him his home. Scot Euan Armstrong, 73, is fighting every step of the way after the scheme left him almost penniless with the bank trying to force him to sell his two million euro home to pay off debts. The pensioner had joined the Danske Bank scheme after he was told it would provide him with a salary for life. The other incentive used was that the move would reduce any inheritance tax for his daughters, who were liable to pay Spain’s top rate of 34 per cent. Mr Armstrong claims that employees in the former Mijas office of the bank outlined a plan where Danske Bank was supposed to use €850,000 to invest in bonds, Swiss Francs and Euro with the ‘profits’ being used to pay off the mortgage. Meanwhile, a €150,000 lump sum would be given to him as part of the equity release deal. However things did not go to plan, and after the first year Mr Armstrong realised that the bank had actually lost him €18,000. Unfortunately, the losses did not stop there. Over the next five years, the scheme continued to lose money and in 2009 Mr Armstrong was told by an account manager in Luxembourg that he should sell his property and pay the bank back the €650,000 they had lost. When Mr Armstrong refused, Danske Bank issued a foreclosure on his house and also a repossession order through Coin court. This was due to take place in July of this year, fortunately, his lawyer stepped in and obtained a court ruling suspending the repossession. According to <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> of law firm <strong>Lawbird</strong> – which is also filing eight separate cases against various Nordic banks in a similar situation – it is actually illegal in Spain to indebt yourself in order to reduce your inheritance tax liability. Nonetheless, he estimates that hundreds of people fall victim to these schemes each year and cases in Spain currently span the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol. The lawyer believes that this type of product, peddled by unauthorised agents under the endorsement of supposedly reputable banks, is becoming more and more common and should be avoided by people at all costs. <p align="JUSTIFY">Several clients of these banks, led by Euan Armstrong have now set up the Equity Release Victims Association (ERVA.es) to denounce these schemes with the appropriate Government offices, with the aim of attaining a decision ruling that these schemes are completely illegal. The official bodies contacted include: the Spanish Prosecution Service, the National Consumers Association, the Financial and Insurance regulators and the Ombudsman.</p> <p lang="en-GB" align="JUSTIFY"></p> <p lang="en-GB" align="JUSTIFY"><strong>Mis-</strong><strong>selling</strong> The crux of ERVA´s argument is why would hundreds of Spanish-based pensioners with their life-time savings buried in their retirement home, re-mortgage it to invest the proceeds with a foreign bank? Surely the answer has to be that it is the result of gross mis-selling</p> <p align="JUSTIFY">Euan Armstrong said: “This is a highly toxic product devised, marketed and sold by mostly Scandinavian banks to financially conservative pensioners and owners of unencumbered homes. These schemes threaten to cripple their health and well-being as there is no visible end to the situation they find themselves in, save for forceful and decisive legal and administrative action. The uniqueness of these schemes is nothing more than an alleged tax defrauding proposition: that by encumbering a home with a mortgage and investing the proceeds in bonds, stocks or life assurance policies, the would-be inheritors could reduce the exposure to inheritance tax.”</p> <p align="JUSTIFY">The Spanish Directorate General for Tax has confirmed on numerous occasions since 1999, that Luxembourg-based life assurance policies are subject to Spanish wealth and inheritance tax – and so are not exempt from inheritance tax as promised by the rogue sellers. This is much more than just false or deceptive advertising, it’s illegal and has also failed to gain clearance from insurance and financial regulators. Equity release schemes represent a complete departure from good banking practices by offering highly complex financial products on unintelligible contracts to pensioners who as less experienced, knowledgeable and sophisticated investors should be afforded the highest level of protection. Instead these huge-profit making banks have been allowed to steal their money.</p>
      • post_titleEquity victims fight back
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      • post_date2011-09-13 21:02:34
      • post_date_gmt2011-09-13 20:02:34
      • post_content[caption id="" align="alignright" width="460" caption="The directors of action group Equity Release Victims Association stand to lose their homes Photo: Larry Lilac / Alamy"]<img class=" " title="The directors of action group Equity Release Victims Association stand to lose their homes" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01996/equity_1996245c.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="287" align="right" />[/caption] <div> Tempted by the offer of a salary for life and an inheritance tax reduction, organisers of Equity Release Victims Association, Ian Sherdley, 69, and Euan Armstrong, 73, used their Spanish holiday homes as collateral to buy into the equity release schemes. </div> <div> The schemes were sold by independent financial advisors working the expat communities along the Costa del Sol on behalf of Denmark's biggest bank <a href="http://www.danskebank.se/sv-se/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Danske Bank</strong></a><strong> </strong>and <a href="http://www.nordea.lu/" target="_blank"><strong>Nordea Bank SA</strong></a>. </div> <div> They were told that if they took out full mortgages against the value of their Andalucian homes, which were fully paid for, and then gave the money to the bank to invest, their inheritance tax liability would be reduced and they'd receive a small lump sum, as well as a monthly return on the bank's investment which would cover the cost of the remortgage and provide a small salary. </div> <div> Mr Sherdley, from Lancashire, and Mr Armstrong, from Scotland, followed the advice only to be later told by their Nordic Banks that the investments had gone badly, the remortgaged money had been lost and their homes, with a combined value of €4.5 million, suddenly belonged to the banks. </div> <div> It is thought that there could be hundred of expats in similar positions across Spain and France. A Spanish court has so far suspended the banks' foreclosure and repossession orders on the properties, while a decision as to how the cases will proceed is expected in the near future. According to Mr Armstrong's lawyer, <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> from<strong> <a href="http://www.lawbird.com/" target="_blank">Lawbird Legal Services</a></strong>, the schemes were mis-sold, bearing in mind it is illegal to knowingly indebt yourself in order to reduce your inheritance tax liability. He said: "We want to find out exactly how many of the schemes were sold, to who, and on what basis. "As far as I can gather, retired expats were targeted because they had paid off their mortgages, so could use them as collateral and would be tempted by talk of reduced inheritance tax liability." Mr Armstrong added: "We encourage everyone who, like us has been sold one of these schemes to get in touch. "Do not lie down and take this. These banks are making billions every year with your money." A spokesman for Nordea bank said: "We can't comment, but we can say is that Nordea runs its business in compliance with local laws." A spokesman for Danske Bank said: "According to the law we cannot comment on individual customer cases nor questions related to individual customer cases. We have no comment." <em>If you have a story to tell about equity release, please contact <strong><a href="mailto:seano'hare@telegraph.co.uk" target="_blank">sean.o'hare@telegraph.co.uk</a>.</strong></em> </div>
      • post_titleExpat equity release victims take on banks
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      • post_excerptExpats who bought into unsuccessful equity release schemes and now face losing their properties have set up an action group to fight the Nordic banks behind the schemes.
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:06:12
          • post_date_gmt2014-05-05 18:06:12
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          • post_titleThe directors of action group Equity Release Victims Association stand to lose their homes
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      • post_date2011-09-13 09:59:44
      • post_date_gmt2011-09-13 08:59:44
      • post_content[caption id="" align="alignright" width="440" caption="UNITED: Euan Armstrong and Ian Sherdley have joined forces against the banks"]<img class=" " title="Euan Armstrong" src="http://www.theolivepress.es/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/PROPERTY-Euan-Armstrong1.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="293" />[/caption] <strong>Euan Armstrong</strong>, who the Olive Press reported is taking <strong>Danske Bank</strong> to court after it convinced him to use his two million euro Malaga home as collateral, has now teamed up with fellow expat<strong> Ian Sherdley</strong>, 69, to form the Equity Release Victims Association. “We are forming an association to prevent these banks from robbing expats of their property by offering a pile of cash as part of an investment plan,” explained Armstrong, 73, who lives in Marbella. “Equity release is not safe and a loan against the property with the idea of hiding the money in an offshore account or removing the money from the value of the property is certainly illegal in Spain.” Sherdley, 69, from Lancashire, who has lost a staggering 2.5 million euros through a similar scheme with <strong>Nordea Bank SA</strong>, added: “These banks are just trying to fill their coffers. So now we are working on getting a legal voice to pursue them through the criminal courts.” The pair are being backed in their venture by lawyer Antonio Flores from the Marbella based firm Lawbird. “The purpose of the association is to support people through their predicament,” Flores explained. “Equity release is actually killing people, through such degrees of stress. Their livelihoods are being reduced and in some cases their lifespan. “We have decided to do something.” Now Armstrong and Sherdley are calling on other victims – believed to run into the hundreds – to stand up and fight these huge financial institutions. “We ask everybody to join us who has or is suffering a similar rape and pillage from a Scandinavian Bank,” said Armstrong. “Do not lie down but stand up and fight them. “These banks are making billions of euros every year and stealing your money.” When questioned both banks said they were unable to comment on individual cases. Documents <ul> <li><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/2011-09-7-Olive-press-Equity-Release-1.pdf">Scanned Copy of Olive Press Article</a> (PDF)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleExpats in Spain battle the banks
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:06:13
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          • post_content
          • post_titleEuan Armstrong
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      • post_date2011-08-24 16:27:36
      • post_date_gmt2011-08-24 15:27:36
      • post_contentAN expat is taking Denmark’s biggest bank to court after it convinced him to use his Marbella mansion as collateral in an equity release scheme. <strong>Euan Armstrong</strong>, 73, is in litigation after the scheme left him almost penniless with the bank trying to force him to sell his two million euro home to pay off debts. The pensioner had joined the Danske Bank scheme believing it would give him a salary for life, as well as reduce inheritance tax for his daughters – who would be liable to pay Spain’s top rate of 34 per cent. But Armstrong, originally from Scotland, now faces losing his home. “The whole case is a mess of illegal contracts, bad investment and a loss of clients money in spite of Danske Banks’ huge profits,” Armstrong told the Olive Press. “We must stop these banks stealing our money.” Armstrong claims he was convinced by three employees in the now-shut Mijas branch that taking out a million euro mortgage would reduce his two daughters Caroline and Kristen’s inheritance tax liability by half. <strong>Illegal </strong> Within the plan Danske Bank was supposed to use 850,000 euros to invest in bonds, Swiss Francs and Euros with the ‘profits’ being used to pay off the mortgage. Meanwhile, a 150,000 euro lump sum would be given to Armstrong as part of the equity release deal. However things did not go to plan. After the first year Armstrong realised that the bank had actually lost him 18,000 euros. “And then for the next five years it continued to lose money and in 2009 I was told by an account manager in Luxembourg that I should sell my property and pay the bank back the 650,000 euros they had lost.” When he refused Danske Bank issued a foreclosure on his house and also a repossession order through Coin court, which would have taken place in July. Fortunately however, his lawyer stepped in and obtained a court ruling suspending the repossession. According to boss <strong>Antonio Flores, of Lawbird </strong>– who is also filing eight separate cases against various Nordic banks in a similar situation – it is actually illegal to indebt yourself in order to reduce your inheritance tax liability. Nonetheless, he estimates that hundreds of people fall victim to these schemes. “This type of product, peddled by unauthorised agents under the auspices of supposedly reputable banks is becoming more and more common and should be avoided at all costs,” he explained. A Danske Bank spokesman said: “According to the law we cannot comment on individual customer cases nor questions related to individual cases.” The investigation continues. <ul> <li><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-11-Ive-Lost-My-Home-Through-Equity-Release-Scheme-2.pdf">2011-08-11-Ive-Lost-My-Home-Through-Equity-Release-Scheme-2</a> (PDF - 143Kb)</li> </ul>
      • post_titleI’ve lost my home through equity release scheme
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      • post_date2011-08-03 16:16:24
      • post_date_gmt2011-08-03 15:16:24
      • post_contentEuan Armstrong, 73, who lives in Marbella, was initially lured in by the false hope he could reduce inheritance tax for his two daughters – who would eventually be liable to pay Spain’s top rate of 34 per cent – and enjoy a salary for life. But Armstrong, originally from Scotland, now faces losing his home. “The whole case is a mess of illegal contracts, bad investment and a loss of client’s money in spite of Danske Banks huge profits,” said Armstrong. “We must stop these banks stealing our money.” Armstrong claims he was convinced by three separate Danske Bank employees in the Mijas branch that taking out a one million euro mortgage loan against his home would reduce his daughters’ inheritance tax liability by half. Within the plan Danske Bank was supposed to use 850,000 euros to invest in bonds, Swiss Francs and Euros with the ‘profits’ being used to pay off the mortgage, while a 150,000 euro lump sum would be given to Armstrong as equity release. But Armstrong added: “After the first year I realised that they had lost me 18,000 euros. For the next five years Danske Bank continued to lose money and in 2009 I was told by an account manager for Danske Bank in Luxembourg that I should sell my property and pay the bank back the 650,000 euros they had lost. “I refused, so in November 2010 Danske Bank issued a foreclosure on my house and also a repossession order through the local court due to take place last month.” <div><ins><ins id="aswift_0_anchor"></ins></ins></div> Fortunately for Armstrong, his lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong> from the Marbella based firm <strong>Lawbird </strong>– who is also filing eight separate complaints against various Nordic banks on behalf of expats who bought into similar plans – stepped in and obtained a court ruling suspending the repossession. According to <strong>Flores </strong>it is actually illegal to indebt yourself in order to reduce your inheritance tax liability, but there are likely hundreds of people who have fallen victim to this scheme. “This type of product, peddled by unauthorised agents under the auspices of supposedly reputable banks to mostly British pensioners, is becoming more and more common and should be avoided at all costs,” he explained. And Armstrong added: “The Judge in Coin Court has accepted that the charges of criminal intent are correct, in spite of their lawyers saying it was not correct as someone else had tried a similar case and lost and had to pay 500.000 euros to Danske Bank, who had lost their money in the same way.” Armstrong has now been forced to rent out his home and move in with his daughter and resume his former job as a yacht captain in order to raise legal fees. A spokesman for Danske Bank said: “According to the law we cannot comment on individual customer cases nor questions related to individual customer cases. We have no comment.” The investigation continues.  
      • post_titleExpat goes up against Denmark’s biggest bank in a bid to save his Malaga home
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      • post_excerptAN expat is taking Denmark’s biggest bank to court after it convinced him to use his two million euro Malaga home as collateral against an equity release scheme that now threatens to leave him penniless.
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      • post_date2011-08-03 11:06:14
      • post_date_gmt2011-08-03 10:06:14
      • post_content<img class="aligncenter" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01957/danske_1957674c.jpg" alt="Danske Bank, Denmark" width="460" height="287" /> <div> <div>Denmark's biggest bank faces a criminal investigation amid claims it offered "illegal" financial products Photo: Francis Dean/Rex Features</div> </div> <div> Six years on, Mr Armstrong is forced to live with one of his daughters as he prepares to take on the bank that promised so much yet threatens to leave him penniless. </div> <div> His lawyer is filing eight similar complaints against various Nordic banks on behalf of expats who bought into equity release plans in the false hope that they could avoid inheritance tax and enjoy a salary for life. He believes the true number of victims could run into the hundreds. </div> <div> Scottish-born Mr Armstrong, aware that his daughters would eventually be liable to pay Spain's top rate of 34 per cent inheritance tax on the €2 million home he owned outright in Malaga, sought the advice of an independent financial advisor known to advise British expat pensioners living on the coast. </div> <div> The advisor, who was allegedly unauthorised to sell financial products in Spain, suggested Danske Bank's Capital Assurance product as a means to reduce liability and introduced him to the local Danske Bank branch in Mijas. He too faces possible criminal investigations. </div> <div> Mr Armstrong alleges that he was assured by no less than three <a href="http://www.danskebank.se/" target="_blank">Danske Bank</a> employees that taking out a €1 million Danske Bank mortgage loan against his home and effectively indebting himself would reduce his daughters' inheritance tax liability by half. It was agreed that €850,000 would be used by Danske Bank to invest and the profits used to pay off the mortgage, while a €150,000 lump sum would be given to Mr Armstrong as equity release. According to Mr Armstrong's lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores </strong>from <strong><a href="http://www.lawbird.com/" target="_blank">Lawbird Legal Services</a> </strong>, it is illegal to indebt yourself in order to reduce your inheritance tax liability. He said: "This type of product, peddled by unauthorised agents under the auspices of supposedly reputable banks to mostly British pensioners, is becoming more and more common and should be avoided at all costs." The Danske bank mortgage loan of €850,000, Mr Armstrong was told, would be invested in bonds, Swiss Francs and Euros. Mr Armstrong said: "After the first year I realised that they had lost me £18,000. For the next five years Danske Bank continued to lose money and in 2009 I was told by an account manager for Danske Bank in Luxembourg that I should sell my property and pay the bank back the €650,000 they had lost. "I refused, so in November 2010 Danske Bank issued a foreclosure on my house and also a repossession order through the local court due to take place last month." Fortunately for Mr Armstrong, his lawyer obtained a court ruling suspending the reposession following the lodging of criminal complaints against the bank and its staff. Mr Armstrong has now been forced to rent out his home and resume his former job as a yacht captain in order to raise legal fees. A spokeman for Danske Bank said: "According to the law we cannot comment on individual customer cases nor questions related to individual customer cases. We have no comment." The investigation continues.   </div>  
      • post_titleScottish expat takes on Denmark's biggest bank over equity release scheme
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      • post_excerptTempted by the offer of a salary for life and an inheritance tax reduction for his two daughters, Euan Armstrong, 73, signed up to an equity release plan in 2004 with Denmark's biggest bank using his €2 million home in Spain as collateral.
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      • post_author1
      • post_date2011-06-08 11:45:40
      • post_date_gmt2011-06-08 10:45:40
      • post_content<div> <img src="http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/Darragh%20MacAnthony-18.11.09.jpg" alt="Darragh MacAnthony-18.11.09.jpg" width="468" height="322" /> The war of words between the overseas property firm run by Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony and its unhappy clients has just gone nuclear. MacAnthony Realty International sold homes and furniture packages across the world from Bulgaria to Florida, but complaints range from swimming pools not existing to apartments not even being built. MRI responded by bringing in libel lawyers Carter-Ruck to target customers making what it called "unjustified attacks". Now MacAnthony has responded with an <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SKdrxNB8jVQJ:www.darraghmacanthony.com/the-life-of-a-football-chairman-2/+%22Darragh+MacAnthony%22+Antonio+Flores&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk">astonishing blog</a> to reports that 51 British and Irish customers, represented by lawyer <strong>Antonio Flores</strong>, hope to take legal action against him in Madrid. "If you Google my name, it appears I am about as popular as Osama bin Laden or Gaddafi," MacAnthony writes. Then he launches into <strong>Flores</strong>, saying the lawyer tried to "get MRI clients excited and hire his services and put a few quid in his pocket". <strong>Flores </strong>says the blog is defamatory, adding: "We have got 51 clients who claim they have lost money, MacAnthony should address his response to them." </div> <div id="more"> Back to the blog: "No doubt I will have to spend thousands of pounds on legal fees over this and for what, may I ask? Running a company as best I can in difficult times and having to do what many others have had to over the last few years - move on, sell up or liquidate, leaving behind creditors who won't get their funds back for a mixture of reasons. "I operated a company which did thousands... of sales around the world with many happy clients, but will forever be haunted by the few hundred for which it didn't work out as planned." Oh well, if it's only a few hundred. A spokesperson for the MRI Support Group (<a href="http://www.mri-sg.org/news.html">www.mri-sg.org</a>) said: "This is the beginning of getting justice for all the people that have been misled and had their hopes, dreams and health shattered because of MRI. This is just the first of a variety of legal actions to be filed against MRI and its related companies, we cannot not let them get away with treating ordinary people as cash cows without a fight". Last year Northern Ireland MP Sammy Wilson tabled a House of Commons motion describing MRI or related companies as a property fraud. In 2008, as a result of complaints against MRI, a tribunal held by the National Federation of Property Professionals said it was "appalled to hear of the company's misleading business practices". It issued fines of £5,000 and MacAnthony resigned his membership of the Federation. </div>  
      • post_titleDarragh MacAnthony tells critics to blog off
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          • post_date2014-05-05 19:06:15
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      • post_date2011-06-08 10:39:30
      • post_date_gmt2011-06-08 09:39:30
      • post_content<ul> <li>Darragh MacAnthony subject of fraud claim in Madrid</li> <li>Conviction could force chairman out of football</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2011/6/7/1307473151229/The-Peterborough-chairman-007.jpg" alt="The Peterborough chairman, Darragh MacAnthony" width="460" height="276" /> <div>The Peterborough United chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, left, with the club's director of football, Barry Fry. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA Wire/Press Association Images</div> Peterborough United’s chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, is the subject of a €600,000 (£535,000) fraud claim in a Madrid court. The case relates to allegations that MacAnthony withheld