A Palma court considers that the local Palma police officer who rented basements and substandard housing to immigrants and people without resources has not committed any crime. The man was arrested after it was discovered that he rented 68 unhealthy spaces, some not even measuring 15 meters, in exchange for between 300 and 750 euros and many of them are in basements and have neither natural light nor the minimum living conditions.
In any case, the judge investigating the case believes that he has not committed the crimes of fraud and favoring illegal immigration for which he was accused, according to Diario de Mallorca. The complaint has been filed, but an administrative investigation is still underway.
This procedure opened after a visit by housing inspectors to the building has, for now, resulted in a proposed fine of more than 2 million euros by the Balearic Government. The Conselleria d’Habitatge de Baleares received a complaint about the unhygienic conditions of these 68 rooms, located in a family building. Many of them did not have natural light and had kitchens, showers and sleeping areas in minimal spaces.
When the Police inspected the building at the request of the Ministry, they discovered that immigrants, entire families were crowded there in some of these rooms, as well as other people without economic resources who lived in deplorable conditions. The police removed several butane cylinders due to the risk that an explosion could occur due to the lack of ventilation in the spaces. Several immigrants were registered in the building, which opened the door to being investigated for favoring immigration.
Beyond the criminal investigation, the Conselleria d’Habitatge has already notified the proposed fine, for an administrative infraction, which exceeds 2 million euros in compliance with the Balearic Housing Law. The text was approved in the last legislature, under the mandate of the socialist Francina Armengol, and intended to fight against the supply of substandard housing in the Balearic Islands. It establishes that the minimum habitable meters for a new home are 30, but this figure is reduced to 24 meters for pre-existing buildings.
The text includes two types of infractions in this matter. The act of creating substandard housing based on unauthorized basements where people live is punished, something that is considered a very serious infraction, with fines ranging from 30,001 to 90,000 euros. The other infraction, considered serious, consists of advertising substandard rental housing. In this case, the sanctions range from 3,001 to 30,000 euros.
