Couple face jail over 14-month hotel bill
A German couple face jail and a large bill after residing in a Spanish hotel for 14 months without paying, saying they thought they could stay for free while talking about buying the property.
The 63-year-old Hans W. and his 31-year-old girlfriend Monika U. took up residence in the four-star hotel in the popular tourist town of Pals, supposedly with the intention of buying the €8.2 million building, online newspaper El Confidencial reported.
The two Germans assured the hotel's owners they were in a sound financial position and ran an audovisual production and distribution company in the United States.
They claimed they were told by hotel management they could stay for free while they negotiated the purchase of the property.
But the sale of the hotel fell through and the hotel owner then demanded that the couple pay for their stay.
A court case began on Monday in the town of Girona, where the pair faced charges of fraud. If convicted they could face four years in prison, a fine of €2,700 and the cost of their stay – €132,000.
The pair stayed at the Hotel Mas Salvi from the 30th of March 2009 to the end of July the following year.
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The 63-year-old Hans W. and his 31-year-old girlfriend Monika U. took up residence in the four-star hotel in the popular tourist town of Pals, supposedly with the intention of buying the €8.2 million building, online newspaper El Confidencial reported.
The two Germans assured the hotel's owners they were in a sound financial position and ran an audovisual production and distribution company in the United States.
They claimed they were told by hotel management they could stay for free while they negotiated the purchase of the property.
But the sale of the hotel fell through and the hotel owner then demanded that the couple pay for their stay.
A court case began on Monday in the town of Girona, where the pair faced charges of fraud. If convicted they could face four years in prison, a fine of €2,700 and the cost of their stay – €132,000.
The pair stayed at the Hotel Mas Salvi from the 30th of March 2009 to the end of July the following year.
The Local/jcw/ad
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