Police officer caught gambling seized drug money in Alicante casino
In a startling turn of events, a Guardia Civil officer succumbed to the allure of gambling, misusing €9,000 seized during a drug operation in Molina de Segura, Murcia. The officer's reckless actions have led to a five-month prison sentence and a ten-month disqualification from public office, as decreed by the Provincial Court of Alicante.
The officer, responsible for confiscating twelve bags of marijuana and the substantial sum of cash during a summer 2020 drug bust, chose to divert the funds towards a destructive gambling spree. Instead of safeguarding the money, he spent over eight hours at a casino in Alicante, ultimately losing the entire amount at the roulette table.
The verdict underlines a grave lapse in propriety, as the officer failed to submit the seized money along with the drugs. Initially facing a potential sentence of one year and eleven months for embezzlement of public funds, a plea agreement was reached, considering the officer's acknowledged gambling addiction and subsequent efforts to rectify the situation.
The court took into account the officer's mental state, influenced by a diagnosed gambling disorder, which played a role in mitigating his accountability. The convicted office, ordered to repay the €9,000, had previously deposited the amount into a judicial bank account, a factor that contributed to the court's leniency.
While the sentence permits a two-year suspension of imprisonment, it remains subject to contestation in the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community.
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