Spanish police arrested 17 people in a town near Malaga today in a new property corruption investigation.
Spain has seen a string of corruption scandals since last year in local authorities that have damaged its reputation, particularly among foreigners seeking to buy holiday homes.
The suspects arrested today, who include business people from the construction sector, are mainly accused of bribery, a spokesman for the national government's representative in the Andalusia region said.
The arrests are part of a investigation into backhanders that began in January in Alhaurin el Grande with the arrest of the town's mayor and planning councillor.
A judge bailed the two men while further investigations continue, and authorities in Andalucia said there may be further arrests.
In Marbella, so many councillors, businessmen and civil servants faced corruption allegations that the government took the unprecedented step of dissolving the council. Investigations in that case continue.