3 - 9 August 2017
Prison for bad mother A MOTHER was jailed for leaving her infant daughter locked in a car under the baking Almeria sun. Judges handed the Romanian woman a one-year sentence for the crime of temporary abandonment. Her mother, the child’s grandmother, received a nine-month term. The women left the two-yearold girl alone while they went shopping near Almeria’s train station. She was strapped into her seat for 50 minutes as temperatures soared to 38 degrees. Police officers smashed through the car window to rescue her after her cries for help alerted passersby. The window was open barely an inch. The girl had no water, was moderately dehydrated, and distressed. An expert told the court that temperatures inside the car may have approached 50 degrees. The judge ruled that the women’s actions could not be excused by mere forgetfulness. Instead they had intentionally set shopping as their priority, knowing full well how hot it was and that the girl was alone. At no point did either woman return to check in on the toddler. Had the police not intervened the girl would have spent another 20 minutes trapped inside.
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Gypsy turf war spreads
Gang warfare Photo credit Policia Nacional
ISSUE NO. 1674
By Matthew Elliott Three members of an Alboxbased gang are facing attempted murder charges after a shootout in Almeria City. Residents fled inside when three shots rang out in the peaceful La Cañada de San Urbano neighbourhood last week. It took just one day for police to identify the alleged shooters. All are members of the notorious Los Pertolos clan, which has operated in Albox since the 1920s. Two vehicles used in the attack, which was a drive-by shooting on a rival gangster in a third car, have been seized. Shots were fired from both cars and the target escaped unharmed. It is unknown whether the shots were a warning or a bungled assassination. No weapon was found, though detectives believe an old revolver was used. Bullet markings were found on a nearby house and are being investigated by forensics teams. The trio have been ar-
SHOOTOUT: San Urbano neighbourhood near the incident. raigned on charges of attempted murder, illegal firearms possessions, property damage and endangering the public. The Specialised and Violent Crime Unit of the National Police force has taken over the investigation. A
statement released expressed its belief that the shooting is ‘closely related’ to an ongoing war between rival drug gangs. No connection has been made to the arrest several weeks ago of three men in Albox for possession of a shotgun and pistol.
False money makers DOZENS of fake €200 notes were found stashed in a car. Police stopped the vehicle after seeing the occupants whispering together suspiciously. Upon closer inspection they found that the driver was drunk. They ordered all the passengers of the car, parked in Roquetas de Mar, to get out while they performed a quick search. The driver and another occupant both had obviously fake €200 notes in their wallets. Officers then searched the car and found another 32 bills stashed under the seats. In total there was €7,200 in fake currency. All three occupants, aged between 28 and 36, were arrested. At the station police found that the driver had given the arresting officers a fake ID. He faces charges of counterfeit, using a false identity and endangering other road users.