Man arrested for falsely reporting a €1,000 robbery after spending the money at a casino

In an unusual turn of events, a man in Santa Cruz de La Palma has been arrested by the National Police for allegedly fabricating a violent robbery report, falsely claiming to having been mugged to conceal the fact that he had spent over 1,000 euros in a local casino.

The incident came to light when officers received a report from the man, claiming that he had been violently robbed after withdrawing money from an ATM in the centre of the capital of La Palma. He stated that his assailant was very aggressive towards him, strangling him from behind to steal the money, which raised suspicions among the investigating officers.

After thorough inquiries, the police discovered a stark contrast between the reported incident and the actual events. It appears that the complainant had spent the money in question at a casino in the city and then falsely reported it as stolen, in an attempt to conceal the true reason behind the loss of money.

It is crucial to note that intentionally fabricating responsibility for or falling victim to a crime, or reporting a non-existent offence, can constitute a criminal offence, carrying penalties ranging from a 6 to 12-month prison sentence and a large fine, as emphasised by the National Police.