Real Estate Agent Faces Jail for Alleged Fraud in Altea Property Deal

On Tuesday, 29th April, a real estate agent will stand trial at the Provincial Court of Alicante, accused of fraud. The prosecution is seeking a provisional five-year prison sentence for the defendant, who is alleged to have deceived a client during the purchase process of a property in Altea, pocketing €97,000 intended for the house purchase.

The public prosecution claims that the victim granted the defendant power of attorney for the house purchase and handed over the money, partly by transfer and partly in cash. According to the prosecution, the agent kept the funds instead of using them for the property acquisition. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Third Section.

The trial follows the recent acquittal of a woman accused of fraud, as reported by this newspaper, after a controversial failed property transaction in Torrevieja in 2022 between two German nationals.

The prosecution and private accuser had sought a three-year prison sentence and a €77,000 compensation for the accused, the property owner, alleging she sold the house to another party without returning the deposit.

The case originated from a failed private property sale in the Los Balcones -Torrevieja- development, where the buyer could not secure financing before the contract deadline. Despite advancing €75,000, no public deed was signed. The accused later sold the property to third parties, prompting the fraud complaint.

However, the Criminal Court No. 4 of Orihuela issued an acquittal for the defendant, ruling that there was no criminal deception and that the matter should be resolved through civil proceedings. The judge described the dispute as a "civil nature controversy," as it did not meet the requirements of Article 251.2 of the Penal Code.