Man admits role in plot to fraudulently take over 141 properties in the Canary Islands

The principal defendant in the Caso Catastro has admitted charges relating to an alleged scheme to fraudulently take control of 141 fincas and properties across Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Santiago Ramón M.M. admitted the charges against him before the Provincial Court of Las Palmas on Tuesday, in a case that centres on an alleged organisation which falsified documentation to change the ownership of properties without the knowledge of their legitimate owners.

FALSE SALE CONTRACTS

The alleged offences took place between 2011 and 2016, and most of the affected properties were rural plots.

According to the investigation, properties were identified before false private sale contracts were created and submitted to the Territorial Land Registry Office in Las Palmas to change their registered ownership.

Investigators say many of the false contracts were backdated to the 1980s and 1990s.

In numerous cases, the legitimate registered property owner had already died.

A Guardia Civil officer giving evidence at the trial said the alleged scheme particularly targeted properties whose ownership status was already under investigation by the Land Registry.

Investigators believe that in total, 158 cadastral files were altered.

PROPERTIES LATER SOLD

The investigation alleges that numerous people were recruited to appear on private contracts, allowing properties to be transferred before subsequently being sold to companies linked to those involved in the scheme, which allowed transactions to progress to public deeds before a notary.

The principal defendant had initially faced a potential 17-year prison sentence for alleged offences including continuous falsification of public documents, fraud, money laundering and membership of a criminal group.

Two other defendants continue to contest the allegations and are seeking acquittal.

The investigation also resulted in the seizure of 47 high-end vehicles, luxury watches, jewellery, land and other property, according to the prosecution's case.