Marbella's mayor in the spotlight: the 'ignored' political link with her narco stepson

The trial taking place at the National Court against Joakim Peter Broberg, stepson of Marbella's mayor, Ángeles Muñoz (PP), for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering, has excluded from the judicial process the evidence of corruption pointing to the mayor and her inner circle. Despite the evidence presented by the National Police, neither the Prosecutor's Office nor the court have addressed these connections during the trial.

During the oral hearing, an inspector from the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) detailed the content of the wiretaps on Broberg. In the recordings, he referred to his stepmother's power to facilitate business deals. However, the Prosecutor's Office didn't ask any questions about this, and  this evidence of corruption has been left out of the judicial process.

The wiretaps revealed that Broberg had significant influence in Marbella City Hall.  A UDEF officer testified that the defendant used his network of contacts to manage permits and launder money. In one of the intercepted conversations, Broberg stated: "The city is ours, the Junta... damn Andalusia". 

The police investigation indicates that Broberg and his associates laundered more than seven million euros (over €7,000,000) from drug trafficking through investments in real estate and gold trading. They used about twenty shell companies registered at a real estate office in Marbella. In addition, it was discovered that several companies were set up in the names of front men in tax havens such as Cyprus, Montenegro, or the Virgin Islands.

Lars Gunnar Broberg, late husband of Ángeles Muñoz, was also investigated for collaborating in money laundering. According to the National Police, he supervised, advised, and facilitated certain transactions related to drug trafficking. Although he was prosecuted in 2022, the case against him was dismissed for health reasons before his death in March 2023.

Another key figure in Broberg's circle is Nils Ander Fischer, owner of the company Codecosol. He received more than six hundred thousand euros (over €600,000) in contracts from Marbella City Hall. Fischer, a close friend of the late Lars Broberg, faces a six-year prison sentence for his alleged involvement in the money laundering scheme.

The Silence of the Prosecutor's Office

"Throughout the judicial process at the National Court against Joakim Broberg, the attitude of the Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office is striking," judicial sources explain. It has chosen to focus its accusation exclusively on the crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering. Therefore, it completely leaves aside any reference to the defendant's political connections. Even when these have been documented by law enforcement agencies.

During the UDEF inspector's appearance in court, the case prosecutor decided not to ask questions about the defendant's references to his stepmother, mayor Ángeles Muñoz. 

According to investigations, Broberg boasted of his ability to influence decisions at Marbella City Hall. He even claimed that he had "all the power in the world" and that "the city is ours." "These statements could've opened parallel lines of investigation into possible crimes of influence peddling, malfeasance, or corruption. But they were silenced in court," judicial sources told elcierredigital.com.

Legal sources consulted by several media outlets have confirmed that the Prosecutor's Office doesn't intend, at least for now, to open a separate case to investigate the possible use of institutional power by Broberg or his political circle to further their criminal interests. 

This decision has been harshly criticized by police sectors, especially by UDEF. Investigators believe that there's enough material to investigate whether Muñoz's circle served as a platform or institutional shield for the drug trafficking and money laundering network led by the defendant.

Ángeles Muñoz has been mayor of Marbella since 2007, with a break between 2015 and 2017. She has also held positions as a deputy and senator for the Partido Popular. Her administration has been marked by various controversies, such as the transfer of land to Benahavís, which benefited companies linked to her family. Her increase in wealth has also drawn attention, as it has exceeded twelve million euros (over €12,000,000).

A Pattern of Corruption in Marbella

The Broberg case adds to a long list of corruption scandals in Marbella. Notably the well-known "Malaya Case", which led to the dissolution of City Hall in 2006 and the conviction of numerous politicians and businesspeople. The city has been a hotspot for urban corruption and money laundering for decades.

The trial against Joakim Broberg highlights the shadows hanging over municipal management in Marbella. Despite the evidence of corruption pointing to mayor Ángeles Muñoz and her inner circle, these have been excluded from the judicial process.

This has raised doubts about the institutions' willingness to thoroughly investigate the connections between political power and criminal networks. It also adds an extra question mark to the delicate political situation on the Costa del Sol after the indictment of Estepona's mayor for alleged embezzlement.