Gibraltar Olive Press - Issue 125

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Vol. 5, Issue 125 www.theolivepress.es June 24th - July 7th 2020

Zeroed out World Health Organisation congratulates Gibraltar as coronavirus is banished from the Rock

SUCCESS: All 176 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have fully recovered, with Chief Minister saying it is something for the Rock to be proud of

THE Gibraltar success story of bringing COVID-19 cases to zero has been recognised by the World

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Health Organisation (WHO).

As one of the only non-island nation states to completely stop the spread of the pandemic, its response has been commended by THE SKY international exDOCTOR perts.

ALL AREAS COVERED In total, Gibraltar has had 176 re4G UNLIMITED covered cases with INTERNET Chief Minister FaIDEAL FOR bian Picardo anSTREAMING TV nouncing that the number of active ALSO IPTV, COVID-19 cases SATELLITE TV on the Rock had fitel: (0034) 952 763 840 nally reached zero info@theskydoctor.com on June 17. www.theskydoctor.com “I am so happy to

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Result

The achievement has been recognised by WHO, as no-one had had severe symptoms or died.

Professor David Heymann of the WHO even invited the Director of Public Health, Sohail Bhatti, to speak at its Strategic Advisory Group on Infectious Diseases.

“There is a great deal of interest in our situation, with the locking down of the over70s, difficult as it was for us to See page 16 want to do, singled out as critical in our success in saving lives,” said Minister for Public Health John Cortes.

“We have been encouraged to

Tel: 952 147 834

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report to the people of Gibraltar today that we have zero active cases of COVID-19,” said Picardo.

“We need to keep it that way by continuing to follow the rules of social distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene.

“Most importantly, we have to be aware that this could change tomorrow but we must be pleased to see this result.”

share our story, and a number of scientific publications will be hitting the relevant journals in the coming months.”

More than 11,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far, adding up to a third of Gibraltar’s population.

Picardo concluded: “Undoubtedly, this is a huge achievement for all of us as a community and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have all achieved together, “There can be no greater political achievement for us now than to have deprived COVID-19 of any Gibraltarian victim in Gibraltar.

“Now that is something for all of us to be proud of.”

Surprisingly, 26 of the 176 cases involved people who caught the virus twice, which could be a concern if a second wave of COVID-19 ever hits Gibraltar.

There are also some who caught the virus but have tested negative for antibodies, casting doubts about immunity from the virus after having recovered from it.

Opinion Page 6

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CRIME Butcher of Hama jailed

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NEWS IN BRIEF Villains busted EIGHT alleged gang-members from the notorious Clan de la Manoli have been arrested for drug trafficking in Algeciras.

Scam scum ROYAL Gibraltar Police has warned residents not to provide personal details to scammers calling local phones with a +248 extension.

June 24th - July 7th 2020

Uncle of Syrian president wanted in Spain THE uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, former owner of Europort in Gibraltar, has been jailed for four years by a French court.

Rifaat al-Assad, aged 82, will also have his property portfolio in Paris and London, worth €90 million, seized.

He was convicted of embezzling Syrian state funds to buy homes and offices.

Al-Assad sold his shares from buildings 6-9 of the Europort business complex for around £30million to a company managed by Gibraltar Minis-

Drug raids

By Dilip Kuner

ter Albert Isola and his brothers.

The move was criticised by Together Gibraltar leader Marlene Hassan Nahon, who said the sale should never have happened.

However, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in 2018 that ‘the rule of law’ had prevailed after a High Court ruling allowing the transfer of ownership.

The former Syrian vice presi-

Dog-napping contested

DOZENS of Policia Nacional and Guardia Civil agents have raided Algeciras drug rings, arresting seven people and seizing €30,000.

A PRIEST who raped and sexually abused the wife of his friend has got away with just three years in prison at a Cadiz court.

dent, who violently put down an uprising in the country in 1982 in which up to 25,000 people died, was not in court

Weeded out

A FOSTER carer of a dog has been accused of taking ownership of the animal under her care in Gibraltar.

Patricia Thomason-Darch had been caring for the pooch before it was supposed to be shipped to a new owner in Germany.

The court heard how Koda, a cross-breed of German Shepherd and Husky, was originally chipped by the Animals in Need Foundation.

After transit was delayed by the COVID-19 lockdown, it was alleged that the accused changed the chip to her own name.

Thomason-Darch pleaded not guilty to the crime and was put on bail, claiming it was never chipped by the charity in the first place.

The two vets involved in the chipping of Koda will testify in the case, to be heard in September.

Rapist let off

VIOLENT: Al-Assad supressed uprising.

A TRIO of British ‘marijuana traffickers’ who used a drone and rental cars have been arrested in Marbella.

The three English men aged between 26 and 29 who used ‘extreme security measures’ are currently in prison.

One man was caged at a Guadalmina property where officers seized 400 cannabis plants, 16.5 kilos of buds and 658 grammes of hash.

for the ruling and plans to appeal. Rifaat al-Assad is a well known figure in Spain where he controlled a property empire worth €695 million, including luxury real estate in Marbella and along the Costa del Sol. The entire portfolio was seized by Spanish investigators in 2017.

Spain’s High Court wants to try al-Asaad for money laundering, with him being accused of siphoning off Syrian government funds.

Judge José de la Mata wants al-Assad and 14 others including eight of his children and two of his wives to stand trial.

Al-Assad left Syria in 1984. He allegedly struck a deal with the president of the country, his brother Hafez al-Assad, to exit with around €270 million of government funds after he led a failed coup.

Butchered own kids A MAN has murdered his wife and two children before killing himself.

Police say the man slayed his wife, 46, and his two children, 12 and 17 with a knife before jumping off a fourth-floor balcony.

The incident happened in the historic Spanish town of Ubeda in Jaen.

The 52-year-old father had no previous record for gender-based violence.

Police say the mother and younger child were dead at the scene, while the older boy died a few hours later in hospital.

Family drama A MAN has been accused of killing his father with a metal spade in Castellar de la Frontera.

Jose Antonio Cozar was arrested at a farm in Castellar after Guardia Civil agents found his father seriously injured at the scene.

Juan Cozar, 84, died from his wounds after being in an intensive care unit in La Linea for a week.

Reports suggest that the father and son did not get on too well and tempers could have flared after an argument.

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NEWS

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Chance in hell

MARKED MAN: Christie

Fake news INFAMOUS art thief and forger, Erik ‘el Belga’, who stole over 6,000 pieces, has died in Malaga at the age of 81.

René Alphonse Ghislain Vanden Berghen passed away on June 19 from a heart attack at the Clinical Hospital of Malaga.

After escaping Belgium’s Verviers Prison in 1976 and being arrested several times, the Austrian-born crook settled in the El Palo area of Malaga.

He struck a deal with the Spanish authorities in 1982, to be released in exchange for helping recover artwork he had stolen.

His signature move was to lift artworks from monasteries, churches, and museums, replacing them with forgeries, some of which to this day still hang in museums, unrecognised as fakes.

HAVE you always dreamed of starring alongside a real life Hells Angel in a Hollywood production in Spain?

Well now you can.

A casting call has been sent out for Marked The Unforgiven, a high-octane new series about an American biker club.

Producers are seeking two actors for speaking parts in the show, which will start shooting in Almeria and Malaga in July.

The programme is an adaptation of Marked, the bestselling book

by George Christie, the founder of Hells Angels, Ventura.

A ‘Mediterranean or Californian look’ and ‘tattoos’ will be ‘an advantage’.

Applications should be sent to Lucy Carver at Lucy@ wanda-halcyon.com POSTER: For Marked

Talking bull…

F1 Star Lewis Hamilton slammed for tackling bullfighting

BRITISH F1 star Lewis Hamilton has been slammed over his incendiary bullfighting remarks.

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver, 35, posted a picture of a bloodied bull online with the caption: “This is truly disgusting Spain.”

The six-time world champion added: "Kids in Spain are taught to torture and kill bulls

TARGET: Hamilton slammed over comments

- starting at age 14.”

The vegan racer has been supporting a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) campaign against kids taking part in bullfights.

His bullfighting comments drew scorn from several high profile figures in Spain, in-

We have a winner!

THE wedding plans of 68-year-old Anne Pearson-Love may have been ruined by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Olive Press and Kempinski Hotel Bahia have teamed up to put them back on track.

Anne’s name was first out of the hat for our five-star luxury prize in a special coronavirus draw – and she couldn’t be more pleased.

“We were due to get married in Sweden this month but had to put off our plans because of lockdown.”

Now they are having to rethink their wedding options, but will use the prize of a three-course meal for two at the Kempinski Hotel Bahia’s Spiler Beach and a one-night stay in a

PLANS: Anne and fiancee Anders Grand Mediterranean Room for part of their honeymoon.

The Kempinski Hotel Bahia has recently reopened with its new White Glove Service designed to keep guests safe from coronavirus.

For more details and reservations - Call +34 95 280 9500 Email reservations.estepona@kempinski.com

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cluding well-known torero Cayetano Rivera Ordoñez.

Cayetano said: “Mr Lewis Hamilton doesn't like bullfights... So? “Anyways, before criticising someone else's culture, you should at least learn more about what you're talking about.”

Another leading bullfighter Fran Rivera also hit out at Hamilton. He said: “He is a person who has no idea what he is talking about, the first thing he should have to do is inform himself.

“He is past arrogance, exceeds pride, and ignorance.

I think it is an attack and a lack of respect for Spain, for all Spaniards and for our traditions.”

The Spanish Minister of Culture and Sport, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes also waded into the row saying Hamilton’s words were ‘offensive’.

An El Espanol poll last year showed that 56% of Spaniards are against bullfighting, 24.7% in favour, and 18.9% indifferent.

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Miley plea SPANISH PM Pedro Sanchez and American pop star Miley Cyrus have become an unlikely Twitter partnership.

The duo tweeted each other regarding coronavirus and its impact on minorities, leading to a tidal wave of social media memes.

The 27-year-old former Disney star - goddaughter to Dolly Parton - tweeted: “Spain, you united in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in the US. We must keep standing together to tackle COVID-19 and its disproportionate impact on marginalised communities, especially communities of colour. Please join us.”

Sanchez replied: “Ours is a strong commitment, Miley. Unity and multilateral response is the only way forward.”

TWEETS: Miley to Spanish PM

No Djoke NOVAK Djokovic and his wife have tested positive for COVID-19 just weeks after leaving lockdown at his Marbella mansion.

The Serbian world number one, 33, and his partner, Jelena, 34 had attended his charity tennis tournament Adrious Tour Exhibition in Zadar, Croatia.

It is there that the 17-time Grand Slam-winner is thought to have contracted the virus, with several other pros who attended also testing positive.

Four tennis players, including Djokovic, Dimitrov, Borna Coric, and Victor Troicki all fell ill, as well as two of their trainers.

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Testing riddles A DECISION to roll out antibody tests to Gibraltar’s entire population could soon be made after the first batch was earmarked for health workers.

The tests aim to show if those people who have caught the virus are immune to COVID-19, at least for some months.

Antibody tests of GHA staff in the past couple of weeks have been done to see if any of them have already had COVID-19.

The Chief Minister said that it is still unclear whether it is worth testing the whole of the population as there is ‘such a low prevalence of the virus and the antibodies’.

A total of 1,247 antibody tests were carried out, and only 18 people were found to have had the coronavirus, a percentage of 1.4%.

“What this means is that we have a low level of measurable antibodies in this specific group, although GHA staff are not representative of the whole population,” added Picardo.

“It does demonstrate the understanding all along that the picture of immunity is complex and comprises antibodies, cellular immunity and many other factors.”

GIBRALTAR airport has thrown open its doors to UK tourists and second homeowners who want to get into Spain.

Following the end of the state of emergency of Gibraltar’s northern neighbour on June 21, it was announced that passengers could use the Rock as a stepping stone to Spain.

British Airways has been flying to the Rock throughout the COVID-19 lockdown after Easyjet grounded all its planes in April.

Since then, other companies have started flights from the UK as demand increased.

Most other airlines will officially start on July 1, including Easyjet flights.

The Gibraltar Government said people will be able to travel to the British Overseas Territory ‘as long as

NEWS

June 24th - July 7th 2020

Flying high Airport getting back to normal TAKE OFF: Gibraltar is being used as a gateway to Spain they provide valid travel documents’.

British Airways flights have been flying to and from Heathrow to Gibraltar since April, though passengers have

BARS and restaurants will need to close at midnight after public health fears over social distancing in Gibraltar.

Bars opened with a limited capacity from June 22 after staying shut for more than three months.

Restaurants had the midnight curfew imposed on June 16 after images on social media showed large numbers of people in Chatham Counterguard, not keeping to two metre distances.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: “Establishments have acted in keeping with the public health advice and the environmental agency permits.

“Unfortunately, many patrons did not cooperate after dinnertime and started to congregate in what would usually have been regarded as normal groups.

needed proof that they have residency in Gibraltar or Spain to board their plane. .

Some Spanish residents were allowed

through the border after taking a flight to Gibraltar during COVID-19’s lockdown so they could get to their homes, but many others were turned away.

Midnight blues “Therefore, we’re going to modify the permits, and if necessary, the law in this respect, to provide extra protection in this crucial phase.”

However, the Gibraltar Catering Association has since said that the restaurants should not be blamed for the irresponsible actions of customers.

Phase 5 is set to begin on June 29, with Elderly Residential Services potentially opening their doors to visitors and the number of people allowed at public gatherings increasing.

Restaurants may also be allowed to have more customers in Phase 5, although this will be looked at going forward.

FALL GUYS: Restaurants forced to close early

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NEWS

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Be ‘appy THE Gibraltar Government’s contact tracing app for COVID-19 had more than 3,000 downloads in the first week after launch.

The smartphone application is called ‘BEAT COVID Gibraltar’ and can be downloaded on the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android devices.

“The goal is to as quickly as possible, reduce the further transmission of the COVID-19 virus by informing app users that they have been close to a person who has tested positive.” said the Government.

With zero reported active cases of COVID-19 at the time of going to press, the app will have the advantage of being able to track all newly reported cases.

However, there are currently around 40 people self-isolating at home, some who have been in contact with COVID positive patients and could have caught it after the incubation period.

Weapon

“We encourage everyone to please download the app,” said Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

“This will be a very strong weapon in Gibraltar’s fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Conspiracy theories about the app have been circulating around social media regarding privacy. However, Minister for Digital Services Albert Isola has repeatedly said that the app will not process any personal data.

“The app is designed with your privacy in mind,” said Isola recently.

“In our fight against this virus, it is essential that people support our efforts by downloading the app.”

He said the programme would only work optimally if over 60% of people in Gibraltar install the application on their phones.

On patrol

Health bosses say there is enough stock of a lifesaving drug in Gibraltar to treat 180 coronavirus patients.

A study by Oxford researchers has found that Dexamethasone can cut death rates from COVID-19 by a third.

More supplies of the anti-inflammatory drug have been ordered, although not a single person has ever been close to death in Gi-

5

Lifesaver available braltar.

An octogenarian who caught the disease was able to survive the disease, one of a number of people attended to at the intensive care unit.

But the government has pledged to take no chances.

ARRIVED: Two replacement boats have been sent to Gibraltar THE Royal Navy has sent two new patrol vessels to replace Gibraltar’s aging speed-boats.

HMS Pursuer and HMS

Royal Navy’s latest vessels arrive Dasher are taking the place of HMS Scimitar and HMS

Back to School YEAR 12 students and level one college students were the last group to go back to school after months of lockdown.

They joined school year groups two, six and 10, that all went back to school on May 26.

The return of A-level students forms part of Phase 4 of ‘Unlock the Rock’ and step two of the education roadmap.

All year groups from next Tuesday will be on summer hours, which means that they will be in school for a short amount of time.

“During the period of summer hours children in years two and six will continue to attend their school for a two hour session,” said a government statement.

“Year 12 students will also attend double period lessons according to a subject specific timetable that has been devised expressly for this period of summer hours.

“All of these lessons will take place in the morning and the specific timings will be communicated to parents and young people via the schools’ communication channels.”

This will be going on until the end of term on July 7, when childcare facilities offered by the Government will also stop.

Sabrewhich have been protecting the Rock for the past 17 years.

The new boats are larger and more advanced than those they are replacing and will add to the Gibraltar squadron’s capabilities.

Like their predecessors, HMS Pursuer and HMS Dasher will be used to back up the police and customs in rescue and patrolling duties.

Their arrival comes a week after a training exercise involving three Royal Navy ships off Europa Point was interrupted by a Spanish warship.

Although Spanish Navy patrol ship Rayo P-42 sailed into British waters it did not interfere with the exercise, although it was escorted away once the drill was completed. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “Incursions are a violation of sovereignty, not a threat to it. We have no doubt about our sovereignty over Gibraltar.

Cooling off

Keep your guard up!

COMPLACENCY could be the biggest failure in fighting against the pandemic, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar has warned.

Although life under the new normal has brought the Rock back to life, the government has warned it could return to lockdown at any time.

The Chief Minister was responding to GSD Opposition criticism of the current lockdown restrictions being too harsh.

June 24th - July 7th 2020

AT LAST: beach lovers can finally take a dip as lockdown eases PHASE 4 of the easing of the lockdown allows people to finally go for a dip without getting into trouble as long as beaches do not become too crowded.

With the start of the bathing season lifeguards are now working at beaches and public swimming pools.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said toilets at Catalan Bay have been refurbished for use, with those in Camp Bay to be ready in ‘the next few weeks’.

Outdoor showers will not be available after public health advice has warned against their

usage during the pandemic.

“Because our beaches are now in full swing, golden hour will no longer be available at Eastern Beach and Camp Bay,” added Picardo.

Instead, the elderly and vulnerable will now have exclusive use of Europa Pool on Mondays and Tuesdays and Gibraltar Bathing Pavilion on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Silver hour was added on June 8, giving vulnerable groups like those with low immune systems the chance to use facilities reserved for the elderly

Steely visit THE new Governor of Gibraltar has visited St Bernard’s Hospital, which worked so hard to fight COVID-19 over the last few months.

Vice Admiral Sir David Steel was introduced to the Gibraltar Health Authority teams by Minister for Health Paul Balban.

“We discussed the functions of the GHA in a community such as Gibraltar and were able to share our recent and ongoing COVID-19 experiences,” Balbann said.

6

NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION No mean feat GIBRALTAR’S success in bringing COVID-19 cases to zero is no mean feat.

This was recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the lockdown on the elderly having saved so many lives.

Although many have accused the Gibraltar Government of fear-mongering, its warnings have ensured not a single life has been lost due to the virus in the territory.

This was achieved while maintaining a restricted flow of people with both the UK and Spain, two of the hardest hit nations.

The government has come up against waves of dissent on social media, making it even harder to impose a lockdown.

The latest criticism of the GSD Opposition over the midnight curfew imposed on bars and restaurants is a sad reflection of how this success could be halted by opportunistic politicians.

In the same way as right wing parties have used popular feelings to create support for their parties in Spain, the GSD seems to be trying to create political capital out of Chief Minister Fabian Picardo’s caution.

While it is true that Gibraltar has no cases at the moment, it is also clear that any slip could lead to massive infection, as occurred recently in Portugal.

There, a private party of just 100 people led to 90 of them being infected in just three hours before it was broken up by police. In a place which is as tightly-knit as Gibraltar a similar situation could lead to hundreds of cases overnight and a major outbreak on the Rock.

It is quite ironic that the flames of discontent are often fanned by alt-right conspiracy theories which seem to be against government control.

But where would Gibraltar be without the responsible actions of the current administration that could have saved as many as the 3,000 lives predicted by WHO at the start of the pandemic?

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Finca fiend

‘I know he snatched Maddie,’ says former traveller friend, who spent months with him in the Algarve and southern Spain

A

DANGEROUS paedophile linked to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann spent long periods of time in southern Spain, the Olive Press can reveal.

Convicted rapist Christian Brueckner was a regular visitor to the Alpujarras area of Granada, where he bought and sold drugs.

The Olive Press has discovered that the German sex offender, 43, would frequently stop en route to Portugal

By Jon Clarke, in Orgiva or Germany, in his various buses or vans.

And chillingly, he was seen in the area with an expensive new Winnebago just weeks after the toddler went missing from Portugal in May 2007.

“He was there in various vans and he came many times in his Jaguar,”

said his close friend Michael ‘Micha’ Tatschl, 46, who lived in the town of Orgiva for many years.

Austrian Tatschl - who had previously shared a home with him on the Algarve - told the Olive Press: “I am sure he snatched Maddie. I know he did it.

He was a pervert and a very strange man.”

The carpenter and petty criminal, who spent eight months in prison with Brueckner, knew the German well and

To catch a predator

How the Olive Press traced Maddie McCann suspect to sleepy inland village - and potentially cracked open the case

I

COULDN’T help but get the chills drivBy Laurence Dollimore ing late at night along the pitch black on the Algarve roads around the inland village of Barao de Sao Joao.

Were these silent trails used by Christian Brueckner to transport Madeleine Mc- the village provided another clue to what Cann to his lair back in May 2007? Was is likely a silent epidemic in these parts. the three-year-old alive... was she crying “Every Friday there’s a huge ‘pizza party’ for her parents? in a field near here and I’ve seen everyIt doesn’t bear thinking about, but it’s thing there. hard not to imagine the worst while “There’s heroin and every drug you can re-tracing the steps of potentially one of imagine, this week I watched a teenage Europe’s most dangerous paedophiles. girl gyrate and kiss a man in his 60s, it We had arrived in the Algarve earlier that was pretty weird.” day after police in Germany sensation- And then there was the ‘wanted man’, ally announced Brueckner as the main with a €50,000 reward on his head, who suspect in the case. he saw at the party the previous night.

With a press pack growing rapidly in our “And there was this couple walking wake, we visited two of the convicted around stark naked who simply squatted paedophile’s former homes, one in Praia and peed wherever they wanted.” da Luz and one in Monte Judeu, which is Such parties would have definitely ata few miles from the ‘alternative’ com- tracted Brueckner, who is said to have munity of Barao de Sao Joao and just befriended a ‘hippy flower-seller’ from 13 minutes from where Maddie was the village and who was a known drug snatched in 2007. dealer.

Then living out of his distinctive West- However, placing Brueckner anywhere falia van, having been evicted from his can be a tall order, not only because of rental home in Luz, while spending eight the time that has passed, but because months in prison, Brueckof the mostly hostile locals ner knew the area like the who don’t want to tarnish back of his hand.

“There’s heroin their slice of paradise, We soon learnt how the while the majority still think and every area is the quintessential the parents are responsimecca for so-called ‘van-lifble. drug you can ers’, who, for whatever moAs a man who now lives tivation, live out of camper imagine, it was above the Ocean Club vans, of all descriptions, apartment where Maddie pretty weird” travelling from town to stayed tells us: “The Mctown.

Canns are hated around While many are genuhere. When they put up ine and enjoy the off-the-grid lifestyle, posters everywhere for the 10th anniverthere’s no doubt it provides the perfect sary they were all torn down or covered cover (as do the communities around Or- in paint,” he chuckled. giva, in the Alpujarras region of Granada) But after reaching out to around 30 exfor monsters and criminals like Brueck- pats on various Facebook groups, on the ner, who began his reign of terror at aged off chance that someone knew Brueck17, when he molested a six-year-old girl ner and actually wanted to help, we got a in Germany. hit. A German woman told us he became “There are some very strange people pals with a British expat while living in a around here,” explained former yacht village named Foral in 2007, JUST AFTER dealer Jim, who works at the charming Maddie vanished.

Monte Rosa guesthouse, in Barao.

We headed there at first light and got He told us about a Dutchman, who had knocking on doors. After getting the cold been beaten to death in his bed just two shoulder from a few Brits, it was an elweeks earlier over a heroin deal gone derly German couple who were all too wrong - while one man covered in injec- keen to help. tion marks and bruises drew out cash in Talking slowly and worried about the

HIDEAWAY: The home in Foral, Portugal, where ramifications, they revealed how they had seen his distinctive Westfalia parked outside nearby Villa Bianca while staying with his longtime German friend Nicole Fehlinger, who rented the property from 2002 to 2009.

They couldn’t believe the police had never been in town and their story was confirmed by the owner, Lia Silva, who alarmingly revealed how Nicole was running a ‘rehabilitation programme for troubled teenagers’ - one of whom ran away and became pregnant at 15.

More mysterious was her partner Romano, described as ‘extremely nasty’, and the drugs and needles found in the villa when they were finally evicted after five year of failing to pay rent, leading to various court cases.

It was very intriguing and we were a step ahead of the chasing pack.

Once the cat was out of the bag, locals became very helpful as the world’s media descended on the tiny village following our story in the Mail on Sunday.

The following week Nicole’s father confirmed to us that Brueckner had a huge Winnebago which he told the former ambulance driver, he had transported drugs and children in.

“As I looked inside, I asked him: ‘Herr Brueckner, what do you do in Portugal?

What is your job?’ He told me: ‘I work, I get money, because I have a special business.

“He told me: ‘I can transport children, kids, in this space. Drugs and children, you can transport them in this van, it’s a safe space in the van, nobody can find them. Nobody can catch you.’” He clearly wanted to be caught.

www.theolivepress.es

June 24th - July 7th 2020

7

DARK SECRET: Idyllic scene visited by Maddie suspect in his Winnebago (inset)

lived with him for years.

The pair even shared a run-down finca in Praia da Luz, which overlooked the seaside resort where Maddie was snatched.

He knew Christian was an excellent bur-

e Christian Brueckner often stayed The vehicle - which the Olive Press has now also placed in Granada a few weeks after Maddie went missing - was later found on land Brueckner owned in Brunswick, northern Germany, in May 2016.

Police had been investigating the disappearance of five-year-old Inga Gehricke - referred to as the ‘German Maddie’ - which Brueckner is also suspected of.

Now being probed over five missing youngsters, investigators found several items of children’s clothing, including ‘small swimsuits’ in the motorhome, while six memory sticks containing thousands of images of child abuse were discovered in a bag buried underneath the body of a dead dog.

But as more comes out about Brueckner’s lifestyle in the area, the search continues for the ever-elusive smoking gun. The concrete evidence which proves definitively that Brueckner was responsible for Maddie’s disappearance.

The biggest question is whether or not the toddler was transported out of Portugal, potentially to order, which is looking extremely likely going on our recent investigation in Orgiva this week. What is clear is that there is still more to unravel in this case, and it seems to be up to us journalists to close the circle on Brueckner, with the police either incapable or refusing to act.

We can only hope that the smoking gun still exists, and that we haven’t arrived too late.

glar, who stole hundreds of passports, and they even got convicted together for stealing fuel from lorries in 2006.

After a two-day grilling by German police last year, he expected an arrest to be ‘imminent’ and he ‘cannot believe’ Portuguese detectives have still not yet searched the former home they shared.

The father-of-one, who now lives near Graz, revealed that the German had a huge stash of cash hidden in the attic, as well as dozens of expensive watches.

Speaking for the first time, he revealed: “I know he did it. I was living with him at the time. He was my best friend and he was definitely a pervert and more than capable of snatching a child, for sexual kicks or money.

“I was staying at his house and camping in a van in the garden. We spent a lot of time together and had good fun.

“He had a German girlfriend who was at least 20 years older than him. I can’t remember her name but she lived a few miles out of town.

“He was always very smart and snappy in the way he dressed. He always had good shoes and sometimes even wore a suit to go out.

But while Micha had fun hanging out with the German, he became aware of his dark side.

“He was definitely quite a strange character... how to explain it? Well he was always quite criminal... He liked to brag about the crimes he had done and planned to do...

And how he aimed to steal as much money as he could until he reached his dream of having €1 million. Then he would stop.”

Talking by phone at his ex-girlfriend’s home in the village of Tablones, near Orgiva, he added: “It was rich pickings there in Praia da Luz. He was always breaking into apartments in the area and bragging about it to me... He was a very good burglar.

“He particularly liked European Championships or big football games when ev-

PAL: Michael Tatschl

eryone would be out watching the game in bars.

“He would climb up to the first floor and steal everything, lots of money, valuables and so many passports. In fact hundreds of passports and lots of Rolexes and other expensive watches.

“He had a hiding place in the house in the rafters. He had all the money and passports hidden up there.

“It was his stash and when we were taken to prison, he ordered a friend to go and clear it up and get rid of any evidence of burglaries or robberies.”

But it was this decision that may ultimately lead to his conviction over Maddie, as the friend and another mate, both German, found a series of sick videos that Christian kept there.

In particular, they found a video camera with a video of him raping an old woman.

“That’s how I found out he was a sick bastard, as they told me it was of this elderly lady who was chained to a wooden post and she was being beaten and raped.

“They said ‘hey Mika what should we do with this?’ I said ‘I really don’t know, I don’t want to see it’ and I think they ended up burning it.

“I told the police all about that story and I hope they verified it somehow.

“On top of that, Christian was always on the dark web. He would talk about it and always had internet in the houses he rented. I don’t know exactly what he did but I suspect it involved drugs and pornography.

“He was always bragging about money and making money. He even talked about selling kids maybe to Morocco...and I think he probably sold Maddie to someone. Maybe a sex ring.

“I didn’t really think about it at the time.

Just brushed it off as joking. But I admit I got sucked into some of his schemes.

“Taking fuel seemed pretty harmless and we did it for a few months.

“The cops caught us red handed, caught us stealing diesel and we got 8-and-a-half months in prison on remand waiting for a trial in Portimao.

“We were caught on April 7, 2006, but we didn’t have our actual trial until December 21. I don’t know why they kept us for so long and I ended up with a €1800 fine, while Christian got a little bit more as he was rude to the judge.”

After spending a few weeks back in Austria for Christmas he came back in February to find Christian was now living in his distinctive white and yellow VW van, having lost his rental home.

“But he was still enjoying living in the Praia da Luz area. I think that confused the police a little as they were not sure where he

ALTERNATIVE: Lifestyle in hippie enclave visited by Brueckner was living exactly when Maddie vanished. knew immediately that he was guilty. The “He was living free, going to raves and part where the female tourist talked about I think selling drugs to the local party the man turning up at her door while her crowd. He also had his Jaguar parked up child played by the front door, the creepy somewhere.” guy with acne and blonde hair... I just Micha however, decided to move back to knew it was Christian.”

Spain, partly because he hadn’t paid his It is a bit unclear what happened next but fine and also to attend the Dragon Festival within weeks there was a knock at the in Orgiva in March that year. door at his village near Graz and four po“The Dragon Festival was fun and the licemen asked him to escort them to the next time I saw him was in late May or police station. early June 2007 when he arrived in Spain “It was the first week of April last year and with his big American campervan, the there were two Austrian police and two Winnebago, the one with the (childrens’) German police. I told them my story over swimsuits.

14 hours from 10 am to 6 pm on the first “He parked it up in Orgiva and came look- day and then from 10 am until 4 pm the ing for me. It was the only reason he had next day. They were very clear with me come to Orgiva to find me. He knew that from the first minute. They said ‘we are inI was living there and he knew I had con- vestigating Maddie McCann and Christian nections to the marijuana Brueckner’ and I told them world and could help him I was convinced it was him. make money.

“I told them I know what “He had some “He had a big dog, an old you want. I hope I can help. dog, a big brown and white sexual issues “I just dread to think of dog called Charlie I think... what other crimes he may but we didn’t But otherwise he was on have committed since. his own.”

“He was definitely a perthink he liked There were certainly susvert and all his friends picions however, about young children” thought that about him. He where he had got his monhad some sexual issues ey. but we didn’t think that he “We all wondered where liked young children. he’d got this big expensive van which he “He was certainly in Orgiva quite a few parked up next to a French group who had times since then...many times with his a big sound system.

Jaguar and other vehicles and normally “I remember specifically having a conver- transporting hashish. sation with an English guy who lived there “What sort of crimes might he have comcalled ‘Pops’ and we both said how on mitted there? I know there have been earth could have had that vehicle? Where some sex crimes around the area over the did he get the money from? We assumed last decade and it wouldn’t be surprising if a big drug deal or something like that. he was involved.

Now I suspect it was Maddie.

“I really hope they can finally close this “He was only there that time for a couple case for the family and find Christian guilty of days and went on back to Germany sell- for what he has done. He needs to admit it ing marijuana. to the police and close it for good.

“After that he was often coming back- “At least I’m sure he’s having a terrible wards and forwards to Spain and to Por- time in prison and everyone is out to kill tugal, mostly dealing drugs, and we often him. He won’t be having a nice life now saw him here with this Jaguar.” and he doesn’t deserve it.”

It was only when Micha watched the indepth Netflix documentary in March last Did you see Christian Brueckner in year on the case, that he finally realised southern Spain? Did he camp near you Christian may have snatched Maddie. “I in the Alpujarras or the Costa del Sol?

LA CULTURA No Indiana

A SPANISH archaeologist has been jailed for faking Basque finds that included supposed hieroglyphics.

In 2006 Eliseo Gil presented artefacts that he ‘discovered’ at the Roman town of Veleia, near the city of Vitoria.

The ‘finds’ included pieces of ‘third-century pottery’ engraved with one of the ‘first depictions of the crucified Christ’, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Basque words that predated the earliest known written examples of the language by 600 years.

But experts disputed their authenticity, pointing out that some of the pieces bore traces of modern glue, and others made references to Rene Descartes, a 17th century French philosopher.

Gil soon became under suspicion after he presented his findings to language expert Joaquin Gorrochategui, who soon began to spot inconsistencies.

He noticed that the Latin used on the inscriptions was ‘vulgar’ and contained numerous errors.

“I could not believe my eyes as the slides were projected onto the screen,” the professor said.

Now a court has found Gil and his collaborators, Ruben Cerdan and Oscar Escribano guilty of fraud, sentencing them to 27 months, 15 months and 12 months in jail respectively.

Do you have a what’s on?

Survivor’s tale

June 24th - July 7th 2020

Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es

Walls of history

The story of a Spaniard who escaped English clutches THE incredible survival story of a Spanish Armada captain is to be re-told in a new film.

Captain Francisco de Cuellar was one of the few Spanish sailors to survive when three ships of the Spanish Armada sank off the coast of Sligo in Ireland.

His dramatic escape to Londonderry (Derry), on to Scotland and eventually back home to Spain has been told in Armada 1588: Shipwreck and Survival.

Produced by the Sligo community group, Spanish Armada Ireland, the film’s virtual release casts further light on the era of the Armada, the Nine Years’ War and Donegal chieftain, Red Hugh O’Donnell.

Spanish Armada Ireland chairman, Eddie O’Gorman said the new film was based on the words of its hero, de Cuellar.

Up to 1,000 Spaniards were slain by British-backed forces on the Irish coast,

but de Cuellar managed to miraculously escape.

During the following seven months, he was robbed, assaulted and humiliated before coming under the protection of Gaelic chieftains, O’Rourke and MacClancy.

O’Gorman told the Irish News: “De Cuellar was essentially forced to roam the countryside naked, having been robbed of his clothes, before being found by O’Rourke of Breffni and MacClancy of Rosscloghar.”

The Spanish captain eventually made his way to Londonderry (Derry), where the bishop, Redmond Gallagher secured passage for him and his 12 countrymen for Scotland.

From there he managed to escape to Spain, while writing an account of his adventures, despite suffering another shipwreck.

“The letter was essentially the first draft of his defence back to the King of Spain

History, adventure and romance.

That’s just the setting.

SCENE: Streedagh Strand where Armada ships sank

in his court martial and the film is based on that,” O’Gorman said.

See Spain’s reluctant armada admiral, on page 10

A STREET art mural about Gibraltar’s rich history has been unveiled at Prince Edward’s Gate.

It was created by Eleanor Dobbs and Jessica Darch and paints a picture of what Gibraltar must have looked like over two centuries ago.

Dobbs described her ‘Old Soldiers View’ mural as a ‘multi-layered history of Gibraltar as perceived at the Gate in 1790.’

“She aims to create a romantic landscape of ruins, defences, and distant views within the closed and dimly lit tunnel,” said a spokesperson from Gibraltar Culture Services.

“It is painted in sepia tones and has a strong narrative, emotionally evoking the past whilst making references to today.”

The mural is situated in the narrow passageway at the south-western access to the town walls at the start of Prince Edward’s Road.

It was unveiled by Minister for Culture John Cortes after being selected by the Street Art Committee from a number of entries.

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling.

Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist.

PROUD

BRITISH

For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

www.visitgibraltar.gi

9

Heritage STREET PARTIES MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE HISTORY MUSIC

Phoenician Empire Calentita

Jazz

INTERNATIONAL

THE ROCK The MoorishMusicCastle Festivals Food Festival Pillars of Hercules National Week, Chess, Snooker, Backgammon Championships 100000 YEARS Darts, Neanderthal Settlements LITERARY FESTIVAL

ibraltar

#VISITGIBRALTAR

A year of Culture

Bring hearts, minds and souls

10

BUSINESS

ERTE extension

THE Spanish Government has said it will extend its ERTE schemes until September 30.

The financial programmes, which allow employers to lay off or temporarily suspend workers during crises are set to expire on June 30.

But officials from the Ministry of Labor have tabled a draft Royal Decree-law that proposes to renew them for another three months.

Government ministers have been locked in talks with the UGT and CCOO unions, as well as some of the country’s largest employers. Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero said her Government had ‘great confidence’ that an agreement would be reached.

It comes as leading Spanish multinationals piled pressure on the Government to secure an ERTE extension.

Pablo Isla from Inditex and Mercadona founder Juan Roig were among those calling on the Government to extend ERTE at a key summit.

Competitive edge SPAIN has ranked 36th on the list of most competitive countries in the world, while the UK came in 19th.

The IMD business school conducts an annual World Competitiveness Ranking of 63 countries across different categories such as economic performance, business efficiency, life expectancy and unemployment rate.

Spain remained in the same position as last year, but has worsened in three of the four major categories, including economic performance and business efficiency.

The country ranks staggeringly badly for unemployment, coming in 59th place, only four spots above the bottom. The UK is up four places overall from last year when it was ranked 23rd. Singapore tops the list for the second consecutive year, thanks to its solid economy, international trade and labour market.

June 24th - July 7th 2020

THE Spanish Government has announced a €150 billion investment package as part of the coronavirus recovery effort.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government has earmarked the huge sum for public investment in 2021 and 2022.

Spain will have to send the plans to the European Commission in order to access the €750 billion coronavirus recovery fund that is currently being negotiated.

Some €74 billion of this funding will be in the form of investment grants and will not have to be paid back.

Pedro’s purse strings This allows the government to set aside the €150 billion for public spending within the next two years.

An official document reads: “An investment and reform plan that centres on a group of large-scale projects with great capacity to transform and modernise our economy and society must be put into place as soon as possible.”

Some ministers told El Pais, that while the document is a good start it lacks de-

tail and a more ambitious vision for the economic transformation of the country.

According to the document, the estimated €150 billion which is approximately 6% of the country’s GDP, is needed to ensure Spain is on the ‘same level of public spending’ as the most advanced countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Intu the red

British mall giant behind ‘global resort’ on Costa del Sol in financial difficulty in UK

Insolvency

Its new Torremolinos site, planned north of the Palacio de Congresos, will provide, ‘a new kind of retail resort’, with sports facilities, two hotels, an aquarium, and over 70 restaurant locations.

Intu is currently tackling a €5 billion debt mountain, and an insolvency process is expected soon because of closed down sites refusing to pay rent during lockdown.

The Torremolinos resort, ex-

By Scarlet Jenkins

‘DEBT MOUNTAIN’: For Intu, which is going ahead with huge Torremolinos site pected to open in 2023, got local approval from the General Urban Planning department back in October 2019, and was expected to start construction this year.

Intu has already had to sell shares in other projects in Spain to fund the resort, offloading 50% of its shares at its locations in Zaragoza and Asturias, forcing the company to look for partners to fund the upcoming Torremolinos location. Intu Costa del Sol, expected to cost €850 million, is promising to bring together ‘international brands and global visitors,’ according to its chief executive Matthew Roberts, including stores such as El Corte Ingles, Zara, and Primark.

Charlotte’s made up

PAYDAY: As Tilbury offloads her makeup brand

SPAIN’S biggest banks have been cashing in by borrowing as much as they could in ultra-cheap loans from the European Central Bank (ECB).

CaixaBank led four of the nation’s five biggest banks to borrow a collective €97.9 billion.

A total of €1.3 trillion was lent to more than 700 banks across Europe by the ECB in the programme known as targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO). The loans are for a three-year term.

Lifeline

By Scarlet Jenkins

BRITISH company Intu, which is set to open a resort ‘like no other’ in Torremolinos, has been described as ‘critical’ as it faces a €5 billion debt mountain.

The shopping centre giant is currently at a ‘critical phase’ in discussions with its lenders.

Intu owns 17 shopping malls in the UK, including the Trafford Centre and Lakeside, with an average of 35 million customers a year according to its website.

Hey big lender

BRITISH makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury has sold her cosmetics empire to Spanish fashion company Puig.

The celebrity makeup artist flogged her namesake as part of a deal that likely valued the business at over €1 billion.

The 47-year-old owned between 50-75% of the company until signing a deal with Barcelona-based Puig, which should have secured her a payout worth tens of millions of euros.

The London-born makeup artist will continue to own a significant stake and act as Chair, President and Chief Creative Officer, but will no longer be the majority shareholder.

Amazingly, they can actually charge an interest of below zero, which means the ECB is paying the banks for lending them the money.

The aim is to provide the cash for lenders to give companies and households a credit lifeline during the coronavirus crisis.

The CaixaBank group borrowed €40.7 billion, Bankia €9.2 billion, Banco de Sabadell €27 billion and BBVA has asked for €21 billion. Banco Santander did not disclose how much it borrowed.

AGONYProperty ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Keyboard warriors Lawbird’s Antonio Flores explains how to battle the scourge of online trolls

I

T is hard to accept that the internet, from which we derive so much benefit, should be so densely populated by individuals (‘trolls’) who deliberately pursue the causation of grief, harm and damage to people they do not know. racism and xenophobia, bias against reliEvery legal system deals differently with on- gions or beliefs, sexual orientation or gender line haters. Those perceived as full or pseu- identity or people with disabilities. do dictatorships will repress political dissent One painful example can be found in Camiwhereas modern democracies will give prev- lo de Ory, who was acquitted of hate crime alence to freedom of speech and expression by the Madrid Appeal Court despite posting over censure. numerous sick and degrading comments – The latter group of countries also differs over black humour according to his code of ethics when the state will intervene, as opposed to – mocking the death of Julen Rosello, who giving those aggrieved the lefell to his death in a well in Togal initiative to press charges talan, Malaga. in court.

Still, it is possible to file a priIt is possible Spain is probably one of the vate claim for libel and defamamost flexible with trolls. The to file a private tion, and custodial sentences Policia Nacional’s mode of be handed down if a defenclaim for libel can action with trolls is a) ignore, dant is found guilty of ‘calumb) block and c) report if it is a and defamation ny’, falsely accusing someone crime. They have missed d), of committing an act defined for trolling which should be file a suit for as a crime, with the knowledge defamation or libel. that it was untrue or with reckBut when is it a crime? Unlike less disregard for the truth, in other countries such as the UK, where trolls particular through the media. can be given custodial sentences for sending The sentencing typically comes with a monemalicious communications, Spain only con- tary award for damages. siders a post or comment publicly criminal if Outside the above hate crime or calumny, it involved threats, extorsion or specifically fall those offended can file civil suits where they within the ‘hate crime’ category, which neces- can seek compensation as well as the removsarily needs to involve one of the following: al of the comments and public rectification.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

PROPERTY Weathering the storm June 24th - July 7th 2020

11

Small dip in enquiries shows Marbella staved of worst of covid crisis

MARBELLA’S property market is set to weather the coronavirus storm without sinking to the depths seen in the 2006 financial crisis.

This is the conclusion of a new report written by Christopher Clover, CEO of the city’s longest established real estate agency, Panorama Properties,

By Dilip Kuner

which has been established for 50 years. It reveals that enquiries from prospective clients

dipped by just 2% in May compared to the same month last year. The report, ‘Purchase and sale of properties during the coronavirus crisis: a market perspective’, forecasts a fall in

Cowboys of Congress TWO key politicians in the Vox party have again been caught marketing illegal apartments in Madrid without disclosing the properties’ official planning status.

Four new apartments now make a list of 18 dwellings that were advertised on the design studio website of current Vox leader in Madrid, Rocio Monasterio, and her husband Ivan Espinosa de los Monteros (bottom left), the party’s spokesman in congress.

The first of the apartments came to light nine months ago following an El Pais investigation, before Monasterio and Espinosa de los Monteros shut their website down and refused to comment directly on allegations.

At least one former resident – three of the 18 apartments remain occupied – accused the couple of promising planning permission before ‘disappearing’.

The politicians have responded via a spokesperson that ‘the clients signed contracts specifying the buildings were not houses’. They added that any move to live permanently in the buildings was the ‘clients’ own choice’.

sales of between 25% and 30% as the luxury property sector relies on foreigners for about 80% of its sales.

But it also predicts a relatively modest drop in final prices of between 5% to 10% in the Marbella urban area.

Clover expects prices to hold up better in the most sought-after locations, especially as the real estate market was nowhere near overheating prior to lockdown, and many more sellers can afford to wait, with far fewer distressed sellers compared to the financial crash.

Optimistic

LOFTY: Vox politicians’ Madrid flats But the pair did not comment on why their website advertised the residences complete with bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces.

Spain’s state prosecution service, La Fiscalia, is reportedly investigating Monasterio for a crime of falsifying work permits.

According to the relevant property registry, the apartments and ‘lofts’ are classed as warehouses, garages and other non-residential buildings.

The latest four added to the list are all based in the popular neighbourhoods of Tetuan and Fuencarral.

MORTGAGE THINK TANK

He indicates that the foreign market of property purchasers in Spain as a whole will come back little by little in the next few months, with stronger recovery in 2021.

Clover underlined that, unlike what happened in 2008, the market has not remained completely stationary, there have been numerous sales and inquiries and for the first time in Marbella’s real estate history, sales made with virtual video tours. He said that he is optimistic about the rest of the year and 2021, as international tourism gradually returns, adding: “There is absolute confidence that we will once again have a healthy real estate market in the medium term.”

by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

Brits are back

As the covid crisis recedes and tourists arrive, the spectre of Brexit has returned for British buyers

S

PAIN has finally allowed tourism to return after several months of the world’s most draconian COVID-19 lockdown.

Brits, Germans and other key tourist markets are back after what seems like an eternity.

Yet as coronavirus begins to recede and the full extent of the crisis is laid bare, another political headache is once again rearing its ugly head.

Yes, Brexit.

The implications of the UK’s departure from the EU are numerous, none more so than for British buyers on the hunt for property in sunny Spain.

Politicians are still thrashing out Britain’s exit deal, while the Brexit transition period is set to end on December 31.

Despite the tumultuous year we’ve had, the ticking Brexit clock has left many Brits thinking that now could actually be the perfect time to up sticks. So, for those lucky enough to be able to afford to snap up a new home, there has been lots to contend with.

At the Finance Bureau we have already seen an uptick in enquiries from British buyers, including those based overseas dreaming perhaps, about life outside of lockdown.

Meanwhile for those with existing mortgages, the coronavirus pandemic and the cessation of much economic activity has made it challenging for many to keep up with their repayments and, for this reason, some of the larger lenders have been offering limited interest-only periods for first residences. In most cases this may last for three months.

As Spain entered lockdown the Government announced a three-month mortgage moratorium to help homeowners, but these have only been available to residents so, have not helped those with holiday homes.

One trend to have emerged from the crisis is the increased number of people enquiring about mortgage subrogation.

This is the term given to swapping one mortgage lender for another, which is very common in other countries but less so in Spain because Spanish banks have traditionally been reluctant to take on another bank’s loan.

This, however, has recently become an option, with one lender, at least, now willing to do this. Any improved conditions are particularly welcome where clients might otherwise have got into financial difficulties, due to these extra challenges being faced by many in Spain and the UK.

This is definitely an option many should consider and the Finance Bureau has a wealth of experience in helping secure the best mortgage rates from Spanish banks.

But for those considering buying a new home in Spain, there are a number of ways you can make your purchase ‘watertight’, especially with the looming cloud of Brexit: - Exchange rate: You will typically need 30% of the price of a property in order to complete, plus any additional fees. This means keeping an eye on the Pound-Euro exchange is essential, especially during the Brexit negotiations - Check the news: Although Spain has been declared open for business, the coronavirus situation could still change. Look out for any travel restrictions in Spain and the UK that may prevent you from viewing your new home - Get advice: Make sure you have an experienced mortgage broker like the Finance Bureau on your side to help steer you through what can be a minefield

To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 Email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nd Office No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

TH4418

69.000€

Fuente de Piedra, Malaga 3 bed, 2 bath Build: 113m2

This townhouse sits close to all the local amenities and within walking distance to the beautiful flamingo lake and nature reserve. It is accessed by a private gated entrance to the front patio and the main entrance. Once inside it has a spacious entrance hall which leads to a bright lounge diner.

Mollina Office +34 952 741 525 info@inlandandalucia.com

Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Molina, Malaga

www.inlandandalucia.com

12

June 24th - July 7th 2020

W

WORLD CLASS: Wakeboard and wakesurf head coach Jordan, while (below) the stunning nearby Castillo de Almodovar

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

HATEVER I expected from my toe-dipping exercise into the world of extreme watersports, it wasn’t a lesson from a European champion and a chance to shoot the breeze with them over an apres ski lunch.

But that’s exactly the kind of A-list experience you can expect at Xtreme Gene in Cordoba.

The wakeboard, waterski and wakesurf centre has been a mecca for watersports fiends since its inception in 2002.

It is no surprise that the globe’s top pros flock to the area every year, especially when you first set eyes on the stunning Embalse de la Breña, on the fringes of Almodovar del Rio.

The lake is a natural paradise far from the hustle and bustle of the Costa del Sol. As you enter the town you are greeted by the imposing sight of Castillo de Almodovar, a hilltop castle which doubled as Highgarden in the HBO hit series Game of Thrones.

Upping sticks from Britain to this charming outpost of rural Andalucia was a no-brainer for Xtreme Gene’s husband and wife team, Matt and Debbie, whose extended family includes eight dogs, two cats and a horse.

“We didn’t come here to be millionaires,” Debbie explains as we drive up a winding dirt track to the lakeside office, “We came here for a nice life.”

The 54-year-old from Egham left behind a marketing job at Bacardi to set up Spain’s top ski and wake centre with Matt, 48, a former world number five water skier.

The ex-champ from Macclesfield is at the helm as Xtreme Gene’s wakeski head coach, his world-beating expertise played down by a laid-back attitude and hillbilly straw hat.

His professional but easy-going manner filters down through the entire Xtreme Gene family, including the wakeboard and wakesurf head coach Jordan Elizondo.

The 24-year-old is another champion, who first came to Xtreme Gene on his 12th birthday and basically never left.

He trains with the Spanish team, having won the nationals several times and even the European Wakesurf Championship in 2019.

The patient young coach has watersports in his blood, which is good news as this is my first attempt at ‘walking on water’, either in skis or on a board.

Although to be honest, I was perfectly happy soaking up the Cordoba heat on the Xtreme Gene terrace overlooking the lake, where a plunge pool and well-stocked bar create a compelling holiday atmosphere.

But it’s my ‘wake up’ call … time to hit the lake.

“It’s really glassing up,” Jordan grins as we amble down to the jetty at the water’s edge.

This is ‘waterski speak’ for the glass-like surface on the lake when there’s practically no wind.

Perfect conditions for beginners, I can’t wimp out now.

We head out in one of the boats, I strap on my skis and take the plunge, so to speak.

And hey, it’s not so bad as you might imagine, especially if you’re used to the salty sting and sometimes near-freezing

Wake Wannabe water skier and wakeboarder Charlie Smith is thrown in at the deep end at Xtreme Gene in Cordoba

IN TRAINING: Charlie’s attempt at water skiing

temperatures of the sea.

The freshwater lake, which has over 30km of runs, is also a popular fishing spot, teeming with black bass, pike, barbel and carp.

“Keep your arms straight, shoulders back and knees bent,” Jordan shouts from the boat as I dangle in the water from the training boom.

After a few attempts under his expert tutelage I make it up onto the skis and start using the rope. Soon I’m whizzing across the water like a stunt

double in a James Bond film and it’s easy to see why this addictive sport sees so many people flocking to Xtreme Gene every year.

It turns out that I am far from the only beginner here this week, with Xtreme Gene regularly hosting families, holidaymakers, stag do dudes and college students as well as the creme de la creme from the watersports world.

And when your time’s up, it’s not over. Like snow skiing, the ‘apres ski’ is all part of the fun.

“Other water ski schools have 15-minute slots where you turn up and then you leave,” says Debbie, “We are not like that.”

While sipping a beer in the bar you’ll be rubbing shoulders with aces like Joel Poland (main picture), the British under-21 world champion water skier.

The young Brit is one of several world class athletes trained and sponsored

by Xtreme Gene, and he has even helped out as a GLOBAL APPEAL: Visitors flock to Xtreme Gene from all over the world

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

of a time

June 24th - July 7th 2020

13

CHILLED: Winding down in Xtreme plunge pool after a day out on the Gene’s lake

TEAM: Xtreme Gene founders Debbie and Matt

guest coach.

Amid the pandemic, business slowed to a trickle but since Spain opened back up, there has been a new surge of interest from those gagging for a better adrenalin rush than supermarket shop-

INCLUSIVE: Xtreme Gene trains everyone from beginners to top pros

Wa k e s u r f W ping. quick round a ksurfe b o aYouTube r d will “We have several guests in leave you amazed.

July, and August is already Surfers are propelled along by i generated by a s kwake e rhuge getting fully booked,” Debbie Wa t the

T H E C O S TA D E L A LU Z ’ S S T Y L I S H N E W LU X U RY H O T E L

says, “Word of mouth is really boat. important for us.

Once you’re up onfor the board Amazing place “We are flexible and people – which you aren’t strapped a can stay in one of our air everything cononto as withfrom wakeboarding – ditioned cabins for a day or a and hit the ‘sweet spot’, you day trip to a week’s week, we can accommodate can let go of the rope and let all group sizes.” the wake do the rest. holiday The site is sparkling clean, With Jordan blasting tunes with coronavirus information Perfect from the boat’s forsoundsystem, posters and hand sait feels like we’re in some sueveryone from nitiser in abundance. per-cool music video.

Debbie prepares us I eventually make it up onto the absolute beginners some tasty sandwichboard and am riding the wake toa pros es and I am once again raring like pro, before I eventually to hit the lake – this time in toss the rope back and drawakesurfing mode. matically boats ‘wipe out’, head over Latest If you don’t know what it is, a heels, in a matter of seconds. andHowever equipment it is clear that I have earned the respect of one of Stunning Europe’s topfresh water skiers and even topped up my tan a little water lake – not bad for an afternoon’s Barwork. & restaurant “The weather is always great here,” Jordan tells me, “And Terrace & plunge pool vibe, there’s just this holiday but it’s also one of the best Lakeside cabins schoolslog in Europe.”

With my pride still largely inorI villas tact sadly depart but vow to return sometime soon to hone my new-found skills.

xtreme -gene.com

Xtreme For more information ring Gene the lakeside on Watersp Spain office thern957057010 u o S orts Complex, Cordoba +34 or email Email : info@ 57057at 01debbie@xtremextreme-gene.com Tel: 0034 9Debbie gene.com For the latest news and information, find us on Facebook

tel: +34 956 447 730 WhatsApp: +34 683 276 387 Plaza España 18, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz 11150 hotelplaza18.com

14

COLUMNISTS

June 24th - July 7th 2020

Lockdown Laughs As confinement comes to an end, I’ll miss the jokers in this Covid comedy of errors, writes Giles Brown

Although the lockdown period did impose significant restrictions on each and every one of us, there were some lighter moments. I spent the past three months providing daily COVID-19 updates – and there were some stories that made me smile.

Monty Python had a famous sketch called ‘The Upper Class Twit of the

YOU may have been too scared to venture outside over the past few months, even for life’s basic necessities.

If you’re an expat, you’ve probably been holed up with another expat who may be starting to grate on your nerves a tad, especially if the conversation is limited to the price of Mercadona’s mince or your neighbours’ shocking disregard for social distancing.

What better time to throw off the COVID-19 shackles and launch into a conversation in another language, even if it does have to be at two metres distance from behind a surgical mask!

It’s never too late to start and Spaniards are generally very forgiving as long as you at least give it a shot.

From this moment on, you will no longer raise your voice in English when being misunderstood, but instead will calmly explain,

Year’ and Belgian Prince Joachim proved that upper class twits were alive and well and living in Brussels when he decided to visit Spain during the pandemic. Obviously deciding that Crown Heads of State were immune to coronavirus (Insert your own ‘let them wear masks’ joke here) he regally decided to disobey the quar-

UPPER CLASS TWIT: The Monty Python-esque Prince Joachim

antine requirements and, after landing in Madrid, caught a high speed train to Cordoba. (I do have a slight

A lot of wind As lockdown eases it’s time to get out and shoot the breeze, even if it’s only hot air, writes Charlie Smith ‘estoy aprendiendo español’.

Conversation-wise, the British have more in common with the Spanish than you might think – weather being a particularly hot topic.

And in Spain you shoot the breeze about exactly that.

The country has several different types of wind, including ‘poniente’ and ‘levante’.

Learn them and start up some stellar viento chat with your neighbours.

Wa k e s u r f Wa k e b o a r d Wa te r s k i Amazing place for everything from a day trip to a week’s holiday Perfect for everyone from absolute beginners to pros Latest boats and equipment Stunning fresh water lake

Bar & restaurant Terrace & plunge pool Lakeside log cabins or villas xtreme -gene.com

Xtreme Gene Watersp orts Complex, Cordoba Southern Spain Email : info@ xtreme-gene.com Tel: 0034 95705701

For the latest news and information, find us on Facebook

You’re probably already aware of the classic ‘hace calor’, ‘sí mucho’ exchange by now.

But with the Charlie Smith spectacular sunshine at the moment, you can mix it up a bit and tell people just how much you are sweating.

“Estoy criando pollos,” was the brilliant phrase uttered by my exasperated Andalucian flatmate this week as he stumbled in from the heat.

It literally translates as ‘I am raising chickens’ and is used when it’s so hot that your clothes are sticking to you.

Of course, weather is just one way into a conversation, as is ‘trabajas o estudias?’ – a fairly lame expression you might hear at the bar.

But then again the key is having a go, and you have the opportunity to show up the holidaying Brits set to descend on these shores over the coming weeks.

Summer

After arriving with only ‘hola’ and ‘gracias’ two years ago I can now converse fairly comfortably with the police, the town hall and the bank.

These days I am taught by the wonderful Carola at Millinguals in Estepona, although I respect that not everyone can afford lessons.

The internet has a wealth of Spanish resources – listen to the Coffee Break Spanish and Duolingo podcasts to get your speaking up to scratch.

Now that shops have reopened, get a Spanish children’s book and for a more formal dose of español, read the Spanish papers.

There’s often a good classic Spanish film or two on TV at the weekend to pick up some old-school Castellano.

TVE’s Españoles en el mundo is also an easy watch, while there is La Casa de Papel for drama, as well as Spain’s equivalents of Masterchef and First Dates for lighter viewing.

Get swatting up for summer!

bit of sympathy for the hapless Belgian as it turns out his girlfriend is from Cordoba, and the ancient city has long had a reputation for the dusky beauty of its women.)

Unfortunately for the Prince and his beloved who were in town to party, after the social gathering, he awoke not only with (we imagine) a Champagne-induced hangover, but also having contracted the virus and a fine of over €10,000 on top. A right royal rollicking must have duly ensued.

Meanwhile, Spaniards were also coming up with creative ways to leave the house. One man was videoed by police taking out the rubbish in a fancy dress T-Rex costume. I can only imagine that was his own version of PPE – Prehistoric Predator Equipment. And while you were allowed to take your pets for a walk, police also stopped people taking sheep, hens and, in one case, a toy dog on

Discovered sitting on a bench with his pet goldfish (in its bowl) wheels, for walkies. To top the lot, there was the genius in Logroño who was discovered sitting on a bench with his pet goldfish (in its bowl). The beauty of this plan was that goldfish only have seven-second memories – so the fish wouldn’t know if it had been out that day at all…

But the best story of all concerned the newscaster Alfonso Merlos who, like many of his media colleagues, was forced to broadcast live from his living room. The proverbial hit the fan when a half-naked woman casually sauntered by in the background. As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, the young lady in question turned out to be fellow journalist Alexia Rivas, rather than his then high-profile girlfriend, Spanish Big Brother contestant Marta López.

Rivas later claimed that Merlos had told her that he was newly single, a fact that was news to López. Not surprisingly the reality star swiftly dumped the caddish anchorman, but not until after some very public mud-slinging.

Makes me glad that I work in radio.

At least the public don’t get to see the half of what goes on in the background when I broadcast…

OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 7 Unique, 8 Neaten, 9 Sailing boat, 11 Guard, 12 Prairie, 15 Shindig, 16 Offer, 18 Underground, 21 Mirror, 22 Farmer.

Down: 1 And, 2 Squadron, 3 Deals, 4 Ensnare, 5 Daub, 6 Relatives, 10 Authentic, 13 Infantry, 14 Piggery, 17 Comfy, 19 Earl, 20 Leo.

SUDOKU

B

Y the time you read this, Spain will have bravely stepped into the ‘New Normal’. To be honest, I have had enough trouble adjusting to the ‘Old Normal’ since the mid-80s, but I blame that on moving from Stoke-on-Trent to Marbella without a suitable quarantine period.

SPORT

Engines ready ANDALUCIA’S premier Superbike event will return to Jerez from July 31 to August 2, organisers have said.

The 2020 World Superbike season is a huge annual event for the city, with the second round of racing to be held at the Circuito de Jerez.

English Kawasaki rider Alex Lowes is top of the table after the first round, some 12 points clear of fellow Englishman, Scott Redding.

After Jerez the series will move onto Portugal’s Algarve.

Cost-a-lotti

When you take out an advertising campaign with the Olive Press, you get a lot more than just the printed newspaper

Everton and former Real Madrid boss Ancelotti latest La Liga star indicted for tax fraud CARLO Ancelotti has been accused of tax fraud in Spain.

The Everton manager, 61, is alleged to owe more than €1 million in taxes.

This charge revolves around image rights tax that the Italian should have paid during his time as Real Madrid boss in the 2014-15

season.

The Madrid Community Prosecutor's office claimed he was ‘intending to avoid his tax duties towards the public treasury with no justification’.

In order for a prosecution to go ahead, a judge will have to accept the case before eventually summoning him.

lotta footy THE Champions League will be completed in Lisbon as part of a ‘final eight’ format, UEFA has announced.

Europe’s top tier competition was suspended mid-March, with half of the last-16 matches still to be played.

Those games are planned for August 7-8, but UEFA has not decided whether the

matches will be played at home grounds or at neutral venues.

The quarter-finals will then follow every day from August 12-15 at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz Sporting’s Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The semi-finals will take place on August 18 and 19, with the final on August 23, which had been due to be played in Istanbul.

Ancelotti spent two seasons with the Galacticos, from 2013 to 2015, taking charge of 119 games, with 89 wins across all competitions.

He won four trophies with the club, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. During his time with the Los Blancos, he also won the award for World’s Best Club Coach, by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

Ancelotti could be the latest of several high-profile La Liga stars who have been found guilty of tax fraud.

In recent years, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Marcelo, Javier Mascherano and most recently, Diego Costa, have all been found guilty of not declaring taxes in Spain.

Ancelotti is yet to respond to the accusations.

Sponsored posts on our website with links to your site and with an aver age of 150,000 visitors per day ur s to Yo ory d 00 er st ote 6,0 low 2 l om ly fo pr ar ok ne bo ce Fa

AS La Liga returns to Spanish TV screens, the President of Spain’s top flight has issued a reminder on football’s economic importance.

Javier Tebas was speaking at the Spanish Companies Leading the Future (EELF) Corporate Summit.

He said: “La Liga clubs, like any other business, have owners who risk their assets to create not only entertainment but also wealth for Spain and its citizens.

“Sport generates 2% of Spanish GDP, of which LaLiga accounts for 1.37%, 185,000 jobs and €4.1 billion in tax revenue.”

15

l 0 te ee ia 0 si Fr tor 0,0 eb i 0 w ed r 1 ay ou a-d in ort si vi

Football focus

June 24th - July 7th 2020

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Flour power

MERCADONA has been forced to bring back its ‘pipas gigantes con sal’, after a Twitter storm over their removal, with many claiming they are a ‘grocery list essential’.

Melon-choly N U T RI T I O N I S T S have warned that eating already-halved melons and watermelons could be unsafe as both fruits have to be refrigerated, otherwise microorganisms can grow.

Vol. 5, Issue 125 www.theolivepress.es June 24th - July 7th 2020

EXCLUSIVE

By Alex Trelinski

UK home bakers emulating their celebrity heroes during lockdown may be to blame for a severe ‘drop’ in British flour supplies to Spanish retailers.

The huge demand for flour has seen exports fall, leaving expat cake makers to use Spanish equivalents.

Aiming high PLANS have been laid for a €1.5 million 50-metre-high Ferris wheel with the 30 cabins on the Boulevard of San Pedro next summer.

B A R C E LON A ’ S Liceu opera house reopened with a concert in front of a planted audience.

Attendees didn’t need to bother with masks or gloves, or even maintain social distancing.

On the other hand applause was muted as the attendees were restricted to 2,292 potted plants.

Expats vying to be lockdown’s star baker put strain on Spanish supermarkets

One former patissier told this paper however that locally-made equivalents are not ‘up to scratch’ for fluffy cakes and other British delicacies.

A number of Spain-based stores told the Olive Press they’ve not been able to purchase any UK-produced flour,

Planted audience

while leading retailer Overseas Supermercados said they’ve had to reinforce their stocks.

Caroline Bush from the Benissa HQ of Overseas Mercados – who stock Iceland products in 27 stores across Spain and Portugal – told the Olive Press that baking celebs could be to blame.

“The UK, and everybody else for that matter, seem to be finding their inner Mary Berry and Jamie Oliver and are baking up a storm!” she said.

“Flour is still being delivered here, but is being snapped up as soon as it hits the shelves.”

A big issue in Spain for expat home bakers is that some domestically-produced supermarket flour is not of the same quality as British imports, which makes it

difficult to bake high quality cakes and pastries.

Ex-pro patissier Stuart Greveson told the Olive Press: “Cheap Spanish flour in supermarkets is fine for bread, but the quality is just not up to scratch if you want to use it to make fluffy cakes for example. You need specialist bakers flour.”

“Spanish flour has a much lower extraction rate of particles compared to UK products.

That rate is the percentage of flour obtained from wheat, and that’s what makes the big difference in quality.

“Also, the whiter the flour, the better it is and also it feels a lot finer, which does not apply to lower-grade Spanish flour. You also get twice as much salt in basic flour made here, along with more fat.”

A BUNGLING restorer has wrecked a 17th century painting not once but twice.

The owner of the copy of The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables by the baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was left regretting his decision to hand over €1,200 to have it spruced up.

The private art collector in Valencia would probably have done better to pay a specialist to do the job rather than the furniture restorer he actually chose.

Having botched his first attempt to renovate the picture the hapless restorer decided to have another go. This went no better with the ‘finished painting’ looking more like a police photofit image.

The incident recalls the infamous ‘monkey Christ’ picture that hit international headlines in 2012.

Cecilia Giménez, who was aged 81 at the time, was worried that a flaking and faded painting on her local church’s wall was in danger of being further damaged by a leak.

Keen to save it she picked up her brushes to restore the 100-year-old image, only for it to end up looking more like a potato.

TM

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