Snr Luis Fernando Cartagena has had his appeal against a jail sentence turned down. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison, barred from public office for a further 6 months and fined 5, 400euros for misappropriation of funds and falsifying commercial documents.

Carmelite nuns had donated 49000 euros to the town hall for social work.

The money was never registered in the town hall and instead Cartagena presented a series of expense bills from the business man Angel Fenoll, which were judged to be false. Snr Fenoll was sentenced to 1 year in prison.

Cartagena has other alleged financial crimes outstanding but has remained active in business in the region.

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