Badalona mayor acquitted of wrongdoing in 'antennas case'

The Barcelona High Court has acquitted the mayor of Badalona, ​​Xavier García Albiol, and other high-ranking officials in the so-called 'antennas case'.

The case stemmed from Albiol’s first term as mayor (2011-2015), during which, as head of Urban Planning, he was accused of authorizing illegal installation of mobile phone antennas for Movistar and Vodafone on the site of the city's local police headquarters.

The trial had started in December. 

Prosecutors accused him of urban and environmental malfeasance and sought nearly three years in prison, ten years of disqualification from office, and a €9,000 fine.

The same terms were also requested for the former manager of the municipal company, Engestur Tomás Vizcaíno, and the former director of Urban Planning Xavier Salvà.

The defense requested acquittal, claiming that at most an administrative offence had occurred.

Albiol: 'Joy and relief' for justice 

Some hours after learning of his acquittal Albiol told reporters that after five “very hard” years, politically and personally, today is a day of “joy and relief” because justice has been done.

Visibly emotional, he assured that the case against him was “a set-up and a big lie” because, as stated in the sentence, “there was no evidence or indication” to implicate him. “You can’t play with people like that”, he lamented.

He also accused the Spanish government of “hunting for a big game piece” as the reason behind the case, and of “wanting to win in the courts what they didn’t win at the polls.”