Villena mayor and councilors face criminal probe over museum treasure theft
A court in Villena has opened a criminal investigation against the mayor, two councilors and the museum’s security chief over the alleged theft of the Museo de Villena’s treasure.
The Tribunal de Instancia de Villena’s Civil and Instruction Section formally launched a criminal probe on Tuesday concerning the historic robbery of the Museo de Villena’s treasure. Judge Marina Vallés Arróniz signed the order after receiving a formal complaint about the custody of the missing artifacts, directing the investigation toward the municipality’s top political and technical figures. Named in the case are mayor Fulgencio José Cerdán Barceló, councilors María Server Cambra and Laura Hernández Alcaraz, and the person responsible for security at the municipal venue.
The action was initiated by the Asociación para la Defensa del Estado de Derecho y la Lucha contra la Corrupción, which appeared in court through procuradora Beatriz Llorente Sánchez and attorney Víctor Manuel Soriano i Piqueras. The judge cited article 774 of the Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal and classified the alleged conduct as a possible negligent damage offence, to be handled under an abbreviated procedure. Preliminary measures include gathering evidence and sending the case to the Ministerio Fiscal for a decision on possible dismissal, with the ruling subject to appeal within the statutory deadlines.
Why it matters
The probe highlights potential misuse of public office and endangers protection of cultural heritage.
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