The current governing team of the El Verger Town Council has reported that it has managed to recover several paintings and electronic devices belonging to the municipality after taking legal action against the former mayor Ximo Coll, who allegedly had them in his possession. According to the council, these actions were necessary due to the lack of response to repeated friendly claims for the return of the goods. The legal process, carried out without additional costs to the municipal coffers, has concluded with the recovery of the objects, although without a criminal conviction against Coll.
In an official statement, the Government explained that the judicial procedure had the exclusive objective of protecting municipal assets. The claimed assets, which were in the hands of Ximo Coll, are publicly owned and, therefore, belong to all citizens, they stressed.
"The court rejected our request for criminal liability against the former mayor for misappropriation and embezzlement, but we still regret his actions. Although there was no criminal conviction, we consider his conduct to be far from being ethically and morally acceptable," the municipal government stressed.
The council has insisted that, although the court did not issue a guilty verdict, it was proven that the paintings and electronic devices belonged to the council. Coll's initial refusal to return the goods, arguing that the paintings were a personal gift from the artist, was refuted by evidence, including the author's own dedication to the council.
The statement also stressed that the assets were only returned after the start of the criminal proceedings, making it clear that they "were in the wrong place." In addition, the council regretted the damage caused to the institutional image by this type of controversy, but welcomed having fulfilled its main objective, the recovery of municipal assets.
Finally, the local government has reiterated its commitment to transparency, legality and the common interest, ensuring that the actions were carried out responsibly, without incurring extraordinary expenses and respecting judicial procedures at all times.