Francisco Javier de Urquía was suspended from his duties at the head of Marbella’s Court Number 2 on Thursday last week by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). He is being investigated by the Andalusian High Court (TSJA) for alleged bribery and corruption as part of the Malaya case. Juan Antonio Roca, the alleged brains behind the Malaya corruption case and currently in prison, was called to make a statement to the court regarding investigations into Urquía’s life, after the deeds to the judge’s house were found among his papers.
De Urquía also appeared in court this week, though unlike other suspects in the Malaya case, he was not arrested and held overnight in a police cell before appearing - a formula which has become the trademark of the Malaya investigations and has even been used to question people who been offering voluntarily to make statements. This difference in treatment has led to criticism from the lawyers representing some of the other people involved in the case.
Sources maintain that the judge is suspected of accepting “certain payments to cover personal expenses” in exchange for making decisions in favour of certain people involved in the Marbella planning corruption case.
The TSJA enquiry was opened after Miguel ángel Torres, the judge in charge of the Malaya case, informed the High Court of the police investigation that connected his colleague with the Malaya suspects.
The suspended judge is best known for heading the “Hidalgo” investigation surrounding the money laundering ring allegedly run from the Cruz-Conde lawyers offices in Marbella. So far 24 people have been charged in the case, among them notaries, lawyers and their clients. However Francisco Javier de Urquía, like most other judges in Marbella, has also been in charge of planning cases involving the former mayors Julián Muñoz and Marisol Yagüe, and the alleged Malaya ringleader, Juan Antonio Roca, among others. He also dealt with the case in which a Local Police officer was charged with manslaughter for the death of a Belgian citizen in the town’s streets.
A judge with a social life and lots of friends
Until last week no one had any doubt about including Francisco Javier de Urquía in the group of judges in Marbella who are not “contaminated” by the GIL years. Relations have been described as “excellent” between the young judge and his colleague Miguel ángel Torres, whose investigations have led to De Urquía’s suspension. However unlike his colleague Torres, the 38-year-old is less concerned about keeping a low profile and is well known for his nights out in local bars and pubs, moving in wide social circles in the company of businessmen, lawyers, prosecutors and police officers. Neither is his interest in the film world a secret. De Urquía is married, although his wife does not live in Marbella, and has recently been the father of a baby girl.
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