Estepona mayor José María García Urbano ordered to stand trial over allegedly hiring a friend into a temporary advisory post; reports say there is no evidence she did any work

A judge in Estepona (Málaga) ordered mayor José María García Urbano to stand trial for alleged misappropriation of public funds (malversación), over the 2023 hiring of a woman with whom he had a close personal friendship into a temporary civil-service advisory post; she was paid €5,276.92 over 48 days with no evidence she performed any work. A hearing was set for 4 June 2025 ahead of trial before a jury court.