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Scottish clans honour Sir Douglas at Teba
The 14th century warrior died in battle when storming the town's castle
By Oliver McIntyre
A group representing Scottish clans visited Teba at the weekend as part of the town's fifth annual Sir James Douglas Days in honour of the Scottish warrior who died in battle when storming the town's castle alongside the Christian forces of King Alfonso X1 in 1330.
The visitors, decked out in their clan tartans, laid a wreath alongside a Scottish flag at Teba's recently inaugurated interpretation centre dedicated to the battle, into which Sir Douglas famously carried the heart of the late Robert the Bruce, King of Scots.
Joining forces with Renton
The Scottish clan members expressed their appreciation to local leaders for the interpretation centre's respectful treatment of Sir Douglas and his role in history. They reported that next year a museum dedicated to Robert the Bruce is scheduled to open in the town of Renton in Scotland, and proposed that the two centres join efforts to foment medieval cultural tourism between Andalucía and Scotland.
The Sir James Douglas Days in Teba included a series of activities over the weekend including tributes, flamenco performances and guided historical tours. The event was organised by the town hall's Culture Department in collaboration with local clubs and associations.
'We'll go to court'
Juan Antonio Roca is claiming compensation after being sacked from municipal post
By David Eade
"We'll go to court" is the angry response from Marbella town hall to suggestions that it should have to pay Juan Antonio Roca compensation for being finally sacked from his job.
Juan Antonio Roca was the former head of town planning at Marbella town hall and is the alleged mastermind behind the Malaya corruption scam - the largest in Spain's history. If found guilty he will have defrauded the municipality of many hundred millions of euros.
On August 24 Marbella's administration dismissed Roca from his post. The delay had been caused by Spain's complicated employment law and the town hall would only act after it had court clearance to do so. He was finally kicked out on the basis that he had repeatedly failed to present himself for work since March 31, 2006 - the date he was first jailed for the Malaya scam.
Within three days of the town hall removing him Roca challenged the decision and said he either wants to be reinstated or paid compensation for losing his job. It is this threat that has caused outrage in Marbella's corridors of power.
Roca is being held in prison on a preventative basis in the Malaya case and also for various other town planning offences. However his argument is that he has not been convicted in the Malaya case - the trial is due to be staged next year - and hence on the basis of being innocent until proved guilty should retain his post or be compensated.
Aifos creditors have till September 30 to file claims
Property giant went into voluntary administration with over a billion euros in debts
By Oliver McIntyre
Creditors of property company Aifos, which entered voluntary administration in July, have until September 30 to file their claims following last week's official publication of the bankruptcy in the State Bulletin (BOE).
On July 23 the Málaga-based property giant entered voluntary administration with debts of more than one billion euros to some 2,000 creditors including banks, suppliers and home buyers whose properties were never completed and delivered.
At that time the company stated that its goal was that the administration process would "guarantee the construction of the 3,000 homes contracted to clients and their delivery in the shortest time possible." It said the process will "allow the restructuring of the company's debt in order to combat the real estate crisis and guarantee the company's survival."
Creditors must submit to the Málaga mercantile court documentation of the debt owed to them by the company.
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