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olive press The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía
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Vol. 8 Issue 181
www.theolivepress.es
February 19 - March 5 2014
What happened when Carla embarked on a duck chase at this local beauty spot? Turn to page 4 to be amazed
EU probes rubber bullets fired at migrants EU officials are to investigate why Spanish police fired rubber bullets at migrants trying to swim to Ceuta. Spain admitted that rubber bullets were fired, as at least 14 people drowned as hundreds of migrants attempted to reach the North African enclave from Morocco on February 6. Together with a second Spanish enclave, Melilla, Ceuta represents the EU’s only land border with Africa.
Dignity
The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, said she was ‘very concerned’ about Spanish police firing rubber bullets to deter migrants. She added that the actions of any EU state protecting its borders should be ‘proportionate’, and should respect fundamental rights and human dignity. “I expect clarifications from the authorities,” Ms Malmstrom said. Spain’s interior minister insisted police did not shoot directly at people, and that the bullets had not caused the deaths of any of those who drowned.
EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell BRITISH tourists have slammed an Andalucian car hire company for failing to repay thousands of euros in deposits despite returning vehicles in perfect condition. Many are still fighting for their money months after they returned their vehicles to Niza Cars, which has offices around the region. In an extraordinary exchange, filmed by one angry client, an employee admitted that 130 deposits of between €300 and €900 had not been returned due to a ‘big economic problem’. The company, which has 2,500 vehicles and opened in the 1960s, also blamed a change of chip and pin Visa machines, blaming the bank. Briton Steve Moore was told, on camera, this week that while 100 clients had now been paid, 30 were expected to be paid ‘within a few days or two weeks’. He had confronted staff at Niza’s La Linea office over why he and his friend Luke
STOP FOBBING US OFF
ON CAMERA: One encounter was filmed
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Briton arrested over child snatch A BRITISH man has sparked outrage after he was released on bail following the attempted kidnap of a Spanish toddler. Locals in Lanzarote were amazed after the British man was merely ordered to appear in court twice a month following the incident. Stephen Raphael Manning, 25, allegedly tried to snatch the four-yearold boy from outside his grandmother’s house in Tias on Sunday. Neighbours spotted the man trying to walk off with the child and alerted his relatives.
Mental
Over 100 car hire clients demand their deposits back months after returning vehicles
The boy’s family, aided by neighbours, managed to locate Manning and the lad in the grounds of a nearby complex. Manning, believed to be holidaying alone, appeared in a closed court session after refusing to answer police questions about the incident. He was charged with illegal detention, but released on bail. He has been ordered to report to the court on the first and 15th of each month. The police are awaiting forensic reports, believing Manning may have a mental illness.
Senior’s deposit had not been returned after two months of continual ‘fob off emails’. Luke, who is dual BritishNew Zealand nationality, had hired the car for 23 days to go kitesurfing in Tarifa and returned it on December 13, before leaving the country. Moore said: “They immediately tried to fob me off by saying it was all to do with the Malaga head office, absolutely nothing they could do, best to email Malaga.” Determined for a result, he
KIDNAPPED: Four year old was snatched in Tias
produced all the documents and email correspondence and placed a camera on the counter to begin filming. Staff eventually agreed to call the head office and were told by a ‘Jose Ma’ in the bookings department that they were going through a ‘big economic problem with the company in general’. The male employee then blamed the problem on the bank, and said they have now switched banks but could not explain why this was never
communicated in emails. Another customer Christine Carter, from Essex, told the Olive Press she had flown back to Malaga specifically to demand her deposit back in person. While she eventually got the deposit back, Niza has so far not reimbursed her for the flights or accommodation, despite promises. Several other exasperated customers told the Olive Continues on Page 2