A court in Andalucía has rejected an appeal against an 18-month sentence handed down to a travel agent from Tenerife who defrauded a hotel in Torremolinos
It all started with an argument about lunches that some clients did not eat at the hotel when they went on excursions and that the travel agent asked the hotel not to charge for. This would have amounted to 2,000 euros of difference in the account, and ended up with some insurmountable differences between the Tenerife travel agency and the Hotel Barracuda in Torremolinos.
The Superior Court of Justice of Andalucia (TSJA) confirmed that the sentence of one and a half years in prison for the travel agent remains.
The Provincial Court of Malaga considered it proven that the travel agent on September 18, 2017, booked a stay at the Hotel Barracuda in Torremolinos. A group of 72 people arrived at the establishment on Costa del Sol, who were going to have a seven-day stay, from April 23 and 30, 2018. The amount of the reservation was 13,504.28 euros.
At first, the agent made partial payments after the group’s arrival at the hotel for an amount of 6,802.27 euros. At that time, he promised to make a bank transfer from BBVA with the rest of the money. The sentence explains that the hotel management trusted the agency it because it was not the first time that it had sent a group to this hotel and that there had not been any problem before.
However, on this occasion, on April 27, 2018, the agent made a deferred transfer of 6,702.01 euros, which he later cancelled. His clients completed their stay at the Barracuda Hotel and duly left,
However, the establishment did not receive any payment, the agent claimed that they should discount the lunches that his clients had not had inside the hotel.
Voided the payments
Without the possibility of an agreement, the hotel reported the agent to the National Police. When the convicted person was called to testify, he told the police that he had made a transfer to pay the rest. To prove it, he showed the agents the receipt with a deferred transfer amounting to 4,372.02 euros.
The agent alleged that he had deducted the money from the services that the hotel had not provided to the tourists who had booked the trip. Finally, the ruling explains that this transfer was also annulled again, leaving a debt to the hotel of 6,702.01 euros.
The TSJA confirms the sentence of one and a half years in prison, in addition to various economic sanctions. The agent will have to respond to a six-month fine of 10 euros a day (1,800 euros), in addition to compensation to the hotel of 6,702.01 euros for the damages caused.
About Torremolinos
Torremolinos is a popular tourist destination located on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, Spain. It is known for its sandy beaches, warm weather, and vibrant nightlife. Torremolinos has a long history as a tourist destination, dating back to the 1950s when it first became a popular vacation spot for people from other parts of Spain.
In recent years, it has also become a popular destination for international tourists, particularly from the UK. Torremolinos is known for its wide range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly apartments and hostels, as well as its many restaurants, bars, and entertainment options.
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