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2 May, 2009 @ 10:00
1 min read

Increased fine for whistle blowers

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THE couple whose illegal home featured in the Olive Press have had their fine almost doubled by the town hall.

Jackie and Peter Chilvers, who’s story made the Lawyers in the Dock front page (issue 55) have had their fine increased from 23,000 to 43,000 euros.

The couple, whose dream retirement home in Tolox only had a licence as a tool shed or ‘almacen’, approached the Olive Press to condemn their lawyers who they say assured them their home had a proper licence.

The increased amount was received just a week after their story appeared in the paper.

A late payment charge amounting to 15,000 euros was heaped on to their fine as well as a surcharge and costs.

They should have started paying their fine two months ago but are trying to fight the unfair punishment in the courts.

“We have been told this is the absolute maximum we can be charged by the town hall, so at least it will not increase any more,” said Jackie.

“But that’s not the point, we shouldn’t even be having to pay it in the first place.”

Regarding the huge number of comments below about lawyer Jose Luis Maseda, click on the following link to read the Olive Press’ exclusive investigation about him:
http://theolivepress.es/2009/11/26/missing-millions/

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113 Comments

  1. Spanish imbeciles. Hold tight; you will be sueing them soon, for hundreds of thousands. The local authority may also be investigated and the people involved sacked for incompetance and illegal acts.

  2. More people put off buying in Spain with every article like this. Keep up the good work olive press, it is the only chance of cutting out the corruption (small chance).

    Let us hope you see some justice.

  5. I know Jose Luis Maseda well and I know the kind of man he is and what he has been up to. I have tracked him down and am in regular communication with him. He has promised to repay a large sum of money he owes me and my family and friends. If you need to know more contact me

  7. Hi Geoff

    At last, the allusive man has been tracked down!! I am sorry to see you appear to be victim too.

    He has taken out a 240,000 Euro mortgage on an apartment and written 350,000 euros worth of guaranteed cheques against my name, using a power of attorney given to him for a completely different reason. He then disappeared and has left me being chased for money.

    Would you be prepared to pass on your information to my Lawyers in connection with Jose Luis G. Maseda?

    I understood he was an Abogado, but apparently he is not a Lawyer at all. What was your understanding of this man.?

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Thank you,

  8. Hi,

    I have a had a guaranteed cheque of 78,000 euros since last August. I regularly go in to the Caixa bank to see if there are sufficient funds for me to cash it but am still waiting.
    Any advice would be very much appreciated.

    Thanks

  9. He is not an Abogado but what is known as a gestor. This is not such a high qualification. He is basically a conveyancer.
    Are you based in Spain? I am based close to Arroyo de la Miel where his office used to be and would be willing to meet up with you and give you all the information I have, which is probably more than anyone else has. I am in contact with more than a dozen of his clients who are all owed money by him so this has become a total obsession for me. Take my word for it, his total debt runs into millions. Taking the legal route to retrieve your money will be tricky as he has ways of getting out of this, which I can explain to you.

  10. Hi Geoff

    Oh dear…. and how does he get out of things – does he hide behind the fact that he has used a Power of Attorney? This is what the Bank are saying to me….. ‘Well it’s a legal transaction because he was able to sign on your behalf!’ Goodness knows what else he’s used my power of attorney for? At lease I have now had the Power of Attorney revoked.

    Unfortunately I am not in Spain. Can you possible correspond with me via email? search.inhand@googlemail.com

    Thanks

  13. It’s not stupid at all. Power of attorney needs to be a last resort in all cases; if it is to be given then it also needs to be given for short periods of time at specific stages of a contract. I would never give POA – far too risky. I would fly over to be present when my lawyer needs me – air fares are cheap as chips currently after all. I own three properties in Spain and never used POA.

  15. I think I have been done by Jose Luis Garcia Maseda through his Eurobrokers firm. I also signed a PoA but only to buy property not to sell or remortgage. But I am not sure now!
    I have spoken to the spanish embassy who asked me to send them the details so that they can help me revoce this PoA. Could you please email me any details of how to get hold of him? This is an awful state of affairs!
    my email is mramaro@gmail.com. Many thanks,

  18. Unfortunately, a cricket bat to the knees is not good enough for this man. Life in prison is more what I would be thinking, maybe one year for every life that he has ruined!!!

  19. Yes he stole our life saviangs. We sold our apartment in Spain and moved into rented accommodation so we could live out our lives on the money from the sale of the apartment. Yes we gave him our power of attorney (which we now have back). We are pensioners – have worked all our lives and trust solicitors. Stupid I now know but too late.

    Eventually we phoned our children and they came and rescued us – by then we had no money for food or rent. We were considering suicide as a good option.

    We now live with our children – I haave just had a mastectomy and am about to have an operation on my eyes. Seemed I had slipped a long way – I just did not care any more – my world had been destroyed by this man.

    I hope that he is found and suffers just a little of what I have been through over the past year. I hope he gets eaten by cancer and dies very very slowly in pain and without the comfort I have of a family that loves you.

  20. Just goggled the bastards name now and was surprised by the number of people he has defrauded myself included I bought an apartment from him in 1999 and went over in November 2007 asking him to sell it on my behalf imagine my surprise when a Spanish mortgage company contacted me in February asking why I had reneged on my mortgage a mortgage I never asked for or gave him permission to take out on my behalf. The bank in question is Bankinter.My mortgage is for 92,000 euro,same old story gave him Power of Attorney which he abused. He also moved money into and out of my Spanish bank account.In order to cover up his fraud he actually paid the mortgage himself up until November 2008 he also paid a life insurance policy and apartment insurance.
    What banks has he dealt with with other people? Are people interested in taking out a class action against him I have personally met Geoff Beal’s and have information on him.I also was offered cheques but refused to take them knowing full well they would bounce , before a cheque was offered to me I was required to sign a disclaimer. Having been conned once I was not going to be conned again for a second time.His wife also owes me money her name is Lola or Dolores. Has anyone had any dealings with her? I have absolutely no intention of ever letting this drop and am prepared to instigate a sustained campaign against this individual

  23. Dear Carol

    I was so sad to hear your story. I am always a great believer in things happening for a reason, but sometimes it is hard to accept when things go this bad, especially at someone else’s hand. I also believe what goes around comes around, so Jose will receive his penance at some stage.

    How wonderful you and your husband have each other, that you have a wonderful family that were there for you in your time of need. You just concentrate on getting better, I wish you good health.

    If you want to keep in touch, please do so to my personal email searchinhand@googlemail.com.

    With regards to you and your family,

    Best Wishes

    Debra

  25. Hi
    I am afraid I to have been had by Jose to the tune of €50,000 which was transferred to a so called safe account through my solicitor as a holding fee in respect of me buying a commercial business in Benalmadena
    I have actually reported Jose to the Spanish Police and there is now an on going investigation from the local police station in Benalmadena 0034 952 44 29 24 ext 60 the crime reference no. 86927
    I could say much more but if anyone wants to contact me please be free to do so.
    I live in the UK and my name is Colin Penfold 0044 (0)1737 222233 (office)
    Thank you

  27. To Fiona
    I have tried to contact you but I seem to have the wrong telephone number you gave my office.
    Also an email I sent was returned by the postmaster.
    Can you and anyone else wanting to discuss my part in this scam please call me on my mobile 0044(0)7917285581 and I promise to contact you.
    I have heard from one other person so obviously this site is working.
    Thanks
    Colin

  30. Hi, I am nemesis of jose maseda. I am another MUG jose maseda has ripped off to the tune of 170,000 euros. I feel it would be to all our benifits to have a get together and if possible to have a member of the local press present (arroyo area )
    If interested please e-mail me on friendsofjosemaseda@gmail.com

  31. Hi nemesis,

    I tried to email you but my email bounced back. I am very interested in meeting up with local press present. I am in contact with an excellent solicitor in Fuengirola who seems confident that we can bring a criminal case.

  32. Hi I have also been conned out of money by Jose Luis Garcia Maseda, I have been waiting for nearly three years for the money that he owes me from selling my bar in Arroyo De La Miel. I would much appreciate being kept upto date on any news.

  33. Hello to all you poor people I too am a victim of Jose Maseda. I am appalled to learn there are so many other poor people like myself, this man must NOT be allowed to get away with this. I too am in contact with a Lawyer in Marbella but I worry that our Jose will be able to wriggle his way out of any Court proceeding, he is a con man of the worst degree and knows every tirck in the book. Does anyone know where he is?
    Please email me on brianandannie@tiscali.co.uk. I would love to talk to a fellow victim. There must be strength in numbers. I am coming out to Spain within the next two weeks purely on a Jose vendetta and need all the amunition I can get

  34. Does anyone know what this is – I got it on a search for Jose on Yasni.

    Boletin Oficial de la Provincia de Jaén
    JOSE LUIS GARCIA MASEDA. ARROYO DE LA MIEL. 2009/00303502. 24206765-R. 2009. CERT. AYUNTAMIENTOS … N.I.F./C.I.F.. EJERC. CONCEPTO …

    bop.dipujaen.es

    Hope it helps someone find him and make him sell some of his properties and repay at least some of the money he stole.

    I fear that it means he is still in business and will cheat other unlucky people.

    My husband and I have been very lucky, I have recovered from my cancer operation (almost) have appointment to have my cataracts done and best of all have been given a pensioners flat by a charity. So for us there is light at the end of the tunnel. I hope others will be as lucky but do not let Jose steal the rest of your life – part of his evil is that hate for him will hurt only you.

    So lets work to bring him to justice but don’t let it steal the rest of your life from you.

    email: zozosgran@gmail.com

  35. As my name suggests, I am the daughter-in-law of Carol Moss on here.

    We are looking for Jose as well as he has the paperwork for some land we bought, without the escatora (sorry about the spelling) we cant sell. If you have any information on this man please email carol or myself directly.

    This is such a sad state but these comments are so important, continue to support each other.

    karenjmoss@gmail.com

  37. Hi Jackie & Peter

    I am so sorry to read of your problem.
    I feel I also cannot trust my Spanish/English Lawyer and was wondering if he might be the same one you had. Would you be kind enough to give me his/her name/Company. My email address is;Mcsebbor@hotmail.com

  38. Hi All

    I am also looking for Jose. He has 80,000 Euros of my money.
    My Wife has had to go back to UK because of ill health over this matter. I am now in a house I dont own and he has talen all our money. we should all get together for an outcome

  39. To all,

    We must take some action. I am preparing my documentation to take to a solicitor who specialises in these matters, next week. It will obviously cost money to do this but the more of us who club together, the more the cost will be spread. Please let me know if you wish to join me in a group action. I am sure you want justice as much as me. I have already emailed the Costa del sol news asking them if they will run a story. I haven´t heard back yet. Please email me at any time.

  41. Hi Della
    I’m also in contact with a Spanish solicitor with referance to taking a joint action against Jose Luis Garcia Maseda and the bank.
    I would be intrested to see if we are using the same solicitor? and if it is the same bank?.

    Please can you e-mail me at linda-smith@talktalk.net

  42. Having read so many comments about this Spanish crook Jose Luis Maseda, who used to run Eurobrokers in Avd de la Constitution, Arroyo de la Miel, I thought I really must add a couple of things that may/may not assist in tracking down this thief. He was very friendly with another crook of this Parish, Keith Ball. He and Jose did much business via Eurobrokers whilst selling commercial property with C-P-S-Spain. Keith Ball owes me 50k and has appeared in Torremolinos court to give his version of events etc. He will be appearing again very soon, hopefully on fraud charges that can carry 4 years in prison. Who has had dealings with Mr Ball, as I understand Jose and Keith are in touch. Jose has some placial villa in El Pinillar where his wife lived. Last I heard from Mr Ball was that Jose was in Madrid keeping low! I cannot understand that.

  43. I have heard of this man Keith Ball. Used to live around Playamar area with Jillian his wife. Understand his stock in trade is running up debts whilst living in apartments and then doing a moonlight! He should have got on really well with Jose!

  44. With regards to the two slanderous Email above: Richard Taylor & Jake Smith (both submitted by Richard Taylor).

    The only truth in either mail is:

    Yes indeed I am due to appear in court with regards to an accusation by the very bitter and twisted Richard Taylor but further to advice from my Lawyer it would not be a good idea to write about it on the internet, needless to say it has nothing to do with Jose Luis Maseda, Me owing 50k€ to Richard Taylor or partaking in any fraudulent activity!

  45. I started this whole debate re Jose Luis Maseda some while ago by replying to an enquiry about his whereabouts. Whilst I worked with Jose for almost 10 years, as a real estate agent, I have spent the past 10 months or more doing nothing else but track him down. I have to say that I, personally, have spent more time, more resources and more money than anyone else involved with this man and I have devoted my life to getting justice from him. I have probably spoken to a good few of you already about all this and I also know that some of you will have been told not to speak to me on the basis that I am in league with Jose Luis. Where this proposterous suggestion came from I do not know and really do not care. I have spent hours, day and night, sitting outside his house, outside his girlfriends house, outside his favourite restaurants, outside his temporary offices hoping he would turn up. I have spent many thousands of euros paying people in authority for information regarding his and his family’s property ownership throughout Spain, his Spanish bank account details and his foreign bank account details. Has anyone else done this?
    So let me tell you all that there is nobody more determined to catch up with this man than me, whatever nonsense you may have been told. Which leads me on to my main point. I am working alongside a tip top Spanish lawyer who is now very close to bringing this matter to a head. This man has already got Jose Luis into a criminal court over his fraud on behalf of a single individual. He is currently on bail having had his passport taken from him. Jose Luis knows my lawyer and is, frankly, quite scared of him. This lawyer is almost certainly the only person, family apart, who has direct contact with Jose. He has a telephone number for him which Jose answers and thay have had conversations already. Jose has suggested a meeting to ‘resolve their problems’ which we conclude could mean that Jose wants a deal to stay out of court. This meeting will likely take place in a matter of days and I will be present at that meeting, at my lawyers request. There is a second option. The Spanish National Police serious Fraud Squad, based in Madrid, have been involved and currently have 3 officers here in Malaga specifically to investigate Jose Luis. My lawyer has had a number of meetings with them and, between them, they have agreed on the following course of action. The Police want my lawyer to form what is called here in Spain, an association, i.e. a group of people acting together with one voice rather than many individuals. Once we form the association we go to court and obtain a single denouncia against Jose. Once we do that we inform the serious fraud squad and they will arrest Jose Luis within 24 hours, without the option of bail. They tell us that at the same time they will arrest a number of Jose’s family and close associates who they are also amassing evidence against.
    So, if you want your money back, number 1 and want Jose to come to justice, number 2 then please, without delay, contact my lawyer as time is now of the essence. If you want to believe that I am not to be trusted or spoken to that is fine. You go your own way and try to get your money back on your own. If you want a realistic chance of getting your money back either directly from Jose or via the courts then make contact with this lawyer a.s.a.p. If you already have legal representation that is o.k. Simply contact my lawyer and tell him of your involvement, giving him your lawyers details and he will laise directly with your man.
    My lawyer is called Juan Carlos Carrasco Garcia.His telephone number is 952 469 038 or 952 197 061. His e-mail address is carrascoabogados@cgbufete.es.
    My wife has told me, many times, to stop acting like Robin Hood and look after number one but I am giving you all a chance to get even with this man and stop him doing what he has done his entire working life, that is steal from anyone he can.
    I can be contacted at cgproperties@cybdigital.com. Thank you.

  46. Nice to hear from “The Paper Bag Man” Keith Ball. Shame he cannot contact me personally to sort out these dreadful debts that he has racked up over many years, whilst I have been keeping him and his wife afloat. I would expect him to be “bitter and twisted” if I had jerked him around for over 5 years and owed him this vast sum of money. I would like to cry on your shoulder for 5 minutes!

  48. Congratulations to the dogged determined efforts of Geoff Gales and for the time and effort he has put into this matter with regards Jose Masala. Whilst I have know the man in question, I am not personally owed any money from him but I will certanly be contacting Geoff’s Lawyer in regards to my ex business partner Keith Ball, as I feel sure that his name will pop up along this investigation.

  49. Just a quick follow on to my last entry a few days ago. My e-mail address is not functioning at the moment so if anyone needs to speak to me they can do on 607 518 100.

  50. I’d like to find Keith Ball again, as he owes me about 5 months unpaid rent on an apartment plus electric and water bills”. The man is a theif and a liar!

  51. Dear John, (Or Should That Read Richard Taylor)

    I have never rented an apartment from an English person let alone anyone called John!

    This again is an attempt by Richard Taylor to tarnish my name!

  52. To the Elephant Man Keith Ball: Could anybody tarnish your name? Is everybody that makes a complaint against you actually me, or have you just forgotten how many people you have “stiffed” over the years? It must be hard to keep track I guess.

  53. I am the son of Graham Moss, who has had over 100 thousand euros stolen from Jose. I have a sim card with texts from him, and the original piece of paper that jose signed stating that he owed my father the money.
    You can contact me on 669 785 275.

  55. Today both my Wife and I joined the Association being run by Juan Carlos Carrasco. I strongly reccommend all others who are owed money by Jose to join, so that we have enough names in the association for the police to have a strong case against Jose to quickly bring him to court and to have all ours monies returned with costs as soon as possible.
    I have had to borrow more money to join the Association, but I feel this is money well spent and is the only way to get my full investment back from Jose.
    The police know where he is and are just waiting for a few more people to join the Association, as the make the case so strong that Jose will not walk this planet again. So all of you PLEASE JOIN ASAP, so that we will all have our money returned .

  56. Keith Ball owes me some considerable money over bad debts and his name seems to continually pop up during conversations I have had with others about Jose Maseda. It would seem that this Maseda person used Keith Ball as his sort of Engish front man to lure unsuspecting people to part with their hard earned cash and then I presume they divi up the cash between themselves. Why is it taking the police so much time in capturing the crooks?

  57. My husband and I have also joined the association – we also had to borrow the money to do so but hopefully it will be worth it in the end. We don’t care wheather Jose goes to jail or not – his sitting in prison will not improve our lives in the least. We want our money back and costs – that’s it – give me my money and I will be happy. As pensioners the money would lift us from existing to living. Not to have to balance the cost between heat and food – even think of a holiday.

    Please if you have a claim against Jose – join the association – if not for yourself – to help us stop being a charity case which is really hard.

    Good luck to all of you.

    Carol Moss

  58. i would like to make a comment.we became friends with kieth ball and his wife jillian.when we came here 5 years ago .looking for a bussiness.he got a loan of €10,000 e from us saying hes apartment was just about to be reprosessed. he introduced us to jose luis maseda . he led us into .soposable a money making deal.in barcelona.that jose luis told us he made .€ 90,000. us been stupit and trusing kieth and jose.we where robbed of €230 ,000 cash.which we will never recover from. we ve rang kieth many times trying to get our money back .but we just get more lies from him. i belive him and his wife jillian and jose are con merchants. and i hope they get what they deserve.because they left us facing a life of hardship.

  59. Hi June

    I hope you have forwarded copies of any proof you have to the Associations lawyer (Juan Carlos Carrasco Garcia.His telephone number is 952 469 038 or 952 197 061. His e-mail address is carrascoabogados@cgbufete.es).

    Kieth Ball I believe is still trading in the open – only proof will stop that and perhaps other people being tricked in the future which is my greatest fear. I do not expect ever to get back our money (would be wonderful but only a dream) but the thought that others will go through what we have ……….. can not be put into words.

  60. Hi June

    I hope you have forwarded copies of any proof you have to the Associations lawyer (Juan Carlos Carrasco Garcia.His telephone number is 952 469 038 or 952 197 061. His e-mail address is carrascoabogados@cgbufete.es).

    Kieth Ball I believe is still trading in the open – only proof will stop that and perhaps other people being tricked in the future which is my greatest fear. I do not expect ever to get back our money (would be wonderful but only a dream) but the thought that others will go through what we have ……….. can not be put into words.

  61. I have still got dozens of text messages from that crook Keith Ball on my phone, telling me that he was going to pay me money that was outstanding but like June Murphy, was total bullshit. We are now heading towards Malaga Court with a case against this thief, with the Police looking for him right now. The main problem is that the legal system is so very slow and naturally an “upstanding” citizen like Keith Ball milks this to the full. Don’t worry June, he will be found and punished.

  62. hi corol and richard. i will indeed get in touch with the l awler.please keep me up to date.wiyh any news about the con mercents keith and jose.it looks like we ve no chance of getting our money back .i feel sick reading how many other people have been conned. i just googled in jose name and am shocted i thought we where where the only ones,this could be the tip of the ice berg,i don t ever wish anyone bad.but god forgive me .i feel hate and i want revenge .for keith his wife jillian who became my best friend .while they where luring us in .and setting us up ,and as for jose.i pray they get the justice they deserve.

  63. June, should you have details of where this fine upstanding citizen Keith Ball is working, or for who he is working for right now, he can be picked up far quicker and my lawyer can get things rolling to a happy conclusion. Whilst Keith Ball thinks he can get away with this low life crooked performance, I can assure you he won’t. One way or another, this crook is going down!

  65. Perhaps I will put up some WANTED posters around The Costa del Sol offering a substantial reward for the capture of Keith “The Thief” Ball and see what that brings in. I don’t really want to do the job of the Police but with the details they have on this crook, his whereabouts, photos of his vehicle with registration plate and his various addresses he has had in Playamar, it seems reasonably shocking that he is not been captured. Maybe I will get lucky and bump into him in the street!

  66. That’s assuming he has not returned to the UK! Knowing you were a person of interest to the police – would you hang around where you could be found easily?

    If you have a picture of Keith Ball – then why not publish it on this thread – we will all look for him then. (With the permission of the paper of course)

  67. Here is Jose’s home telephone number.Do ring and voice your many concerns to his wife Dolores or Lola as she is called and to his sister in law Chony. I am sure they would be delighted to hear from you all. A late night call is particularly effective.
    0034 952 435345

  68. I certainly would publish a picture of Keith “the thief” Ball if I had one but I think the Police and my Lawyer are the only ones with these. What I cannot quite understand is why nobody has told me where this man is working/living at the moment, as I am reasonably sure that he is still around and it would appear that he feels he is either invisable or bullet proof. If this is what he thinks, he must be living in Nania!

  70. Did anyone have any success with getting their money back after joining the association? I know this question was asked by Zen on 7/7/10 but there doesn´t appear to be a positive reply from anyone??

  72. Sadly not a penny. Guess we throw good money after bad. Had to borrow that and pay it back from our pension. Could have been worse = we were lucky to have our children who have been wonderful. Hope everyone else has been able to survive. My prayers are with you all.

  73. I didn’t join the association as didn’t want to waste any more money and didn’t really trust it, i did speak to Geoff Gales who wanted 1000 euros to help get my money back but am sure he is conning me too, Has anyone else got there money back through this Geoff Gales??

  74. Well who might Nigel be, I thought it had gone quiet!

    I feel sorry for all the genuine people who are using this blog to try and recover lost monies etc from JLGM, like myself as I too was a victim of his crimes!

    If anyone is looking for me for whatever reason, please E-mail me on keith@cpsinmo.com (the same address I have had for years now),we can meet at any Police Station of your choice and I will gladly face upto any accusations you are claiming!?

  75. I wouldn’t trust Geoff Gales. I was asked to contribute money to this so called Lawyer who wanted all those involved to pay up to €1,000 or more into a fund to help collectively to bring our friend Jose to justice…Just another con so anyone else interested should give him a miss. I did warn people before but no one listened..My advice is walk away no one is every going to get their money back, including me..it is hard to accept but that is the reality of this mess.

  76. I too did not trust this so called association. i was asked to pay considerably more than the 1,000 euros which some of you were asked for. I did say at the time that i was broke but this appeared to fall on deaf ears. The associations primary concern was how i was going to pay their “joining fee” and this made me suspicious. I can’t believe that there are scum bags out there who are so low that they will rob people who are already on their knees after being conned out of their life savings. But be sure of one thing……..what goes around comes around. jose has conned so many that the law of averages says there is sure to be at least one person out there looking for justice in whatever form it make come. His address is no secret…..you can find it on the internet and then see the front gates on google earth! It’s very difficult to disappear in this day and age with big brother watching! I would be very nervous if I were him. We can all sleep soundly in our beds at night, that’s one thing that our stolen money can’t buy him. One thing is for sure, the bad guys will rot in hell.

  77. What a poor hard done by man Keith “the thief” Ball is and to think he has lost money to that other thieving ****** Jose Maseda: almost a match made in heaven! Nigel don’t bother e-mailing this crook as you will only get some bullshit name and address and would not have the guts to meet anybody. If you know where this con man is or what he is doing, probably helped by his peroxide moll, please tell everybody!

  78. Keith Ball the “paper bag man” sounds off again and to think he has been ripped off by his master and associate in crime, Jose Maseda. What he really means is that he failed to collect his ill gotten commission from this slippery Spaniard and he is p*ssed off. Perhaps we could all meet him at the Police station but would tactfully suggest it ought to be rather a large station!

  79. Can Keith “Elephant Man” Ball be the same guy that ripped people off when he worked at Butlins Holiday Camps and did a stretch in HMP? Or am I mixing him up with another fraudulant chancer who you wouldn’t take a cheque from?

  80. Please be very sure that you can prove any allogation made on this blog. Yes we can all prove Jose stole from us but if you make allegations about anyone else, in court, YOU have to prove that what you have written is true/

    It would be a pity if one of us was stung by the courts when they appear unable to move against Jose.

  81. Thank you for your comments Carol. If you can ALL prove that Jose stole from you, why is this man not banged up or waiting a trial date? Why are the Solicitors/Lawyers holding back against this man if they have such a load of evidence provided by people such as you? As per usual in Spain, no matter what people think, there is one law for us and one for the Spanish and yet again, it shows it’s head in this case! I think that if any of us did what Jose and Keith Ball have done, against many upstanding Spanish people, then guess where we would be right about now? Answers on a postcard please!

  83. At long last Keith the Thief Ball has been done in the courts proving without any possible doubt, he is a lying, thieving con man. He is looking at a long stretch in prison and a large amount of money to pay back. Wasn’t he the man that “wanted to meet anybody that had a complaint in a Police Station?”. I guess it would have saved time if he did that, saving the cops from arresting this very crooked man. So that is what happened to this poor excuse of a man and what about his master Jose Maseda, who seems to be walking on water.

  84. Thats very interesting! Is there an article on this at all? Im surprised that the olive press has shown very little interest in this story about Jose Maseda.

    Thanks for the update Jake!!

  87. Since the class action is now under way perhaps the paper can not comment because the case is before the court! Guess Jose lives in style while we now only have our pensions (plus extra for having cancer) and not our planned retirement in the sun.

  88. It is always a great shame that the Spanish legal system moves at such a very slow rate, especially when everybody is suffering because of a couple of crooks like Jose & Keith. This is a major factor as to why they seem to continually live with almost impunity instead of being arrested and questioned by the Police. I am looking forward to visiting Keith Ball when he gets banged up for 6 years!

  89. Is there anyone else apart from the Chilvers who has been ripped off in purchasing land in Tolox? I used Manzanares solicitors and P3 develpers. Building licences given by the town hall are illegal and fines are imposed for those who did build. I lost 125,000 euros on the land purchase. Luckily I didn’t build at the time. Anyone taking legal action? Can we club together? I’ve lost everything.

  92. I can tell you all that Jose Maseda was arrested on Thursday 5th May 2011 and is locked up in Benalmadena Police station awaiting trial.
    I joined the association in 2009 and thank god I did, things seem to be moving now for the better.

  95. dear search in hand –
    bail is a right in spain and is normal for spanish or residents with family and work in the area ,to get bail on their own merits . he is hardly a danger to society or accused of a violent act which would result in remand to prison.

  96. So by now he has had time to hide our money. While we now live in an Almshouse, have no savings and must rely on our pensions and charity.

    Not how we planned to spend our last years.

    All we asked was that he handle the sale of our apartment – so we could downsize and live off the difference. He stole the lot. May God look on his deeds and judge him. I don’t think the Spanish Court will care about us. Do you?

    Our money was ample to cover bail – the rest is out of the country – we will never see it.

  97. Sorry but “Danger to Society” depends on the interpretation.

    My interpretation also includes to steal every penny someone has to live on and leave them no money for food, clothing or rent can lead to starvation, depression, and death.

    Now I would say that can be interpreted as members of society in danger directly through his actions just as surely as if he yielded a knife and took their lives.

  98. Exactly Karen, I agree.

    What I was actually saying is – if he’s was found in a rented apartment, posing as though he has no assets, who posted his bail?

    And Louislou – I am sure he didn’t get bail on ‘his merits’; he’s definitely a danger to society through his work, I sincerely hope he is not still working!

    He should be locked up immediately where he belongs.

  99. ok heres my clarification of my previous comment .
    1. to misuse a power of attorney is a great breach of trust and honour and should be punished at the highest level through the courts . In the case of people who find themselves with mortgages they didnt want or need and people who have lost their savings and future this to is a crime .
    however the term investor is used far to loosly here , as any intelligent person is aware an investment can lose money as well as gain it , banks shares and property can all cost you dearly in the investment game when things go wrong. No sane person invests everything they own in one deal and investors spread the risk to avoid bankruptcy. so if you loose in an investment that in my opinion is not a crime.

  100. For your information Louie Lou, we employed Jose to sell our apartment for us. Yes he sold it and did the required paper work. He should then have given us the proceeds from the sale after taxes and fees. HE DID NOT – HE KEPT THE MONEY! Are you saying that this is what we should expect from any Spanish solicitor? Is this normal? In the rest of the world all ,moneys are held in a client account not spent by the solicitor. SO ARE YOU SAYING ITS OK TO STEAL AS LONG AS IT IS NOT FROM SPANISH NATIONALS? I believe this to be thieft – he STOLE our money. We did not ask him to invest it – he is a thief.

    If you want to defend that I would question YOUR honour.

  101. Louis lou

    I don’t know who you are? – a victim? probably not, otherwise you would not be giving your opinion so heartlessly, you obviously do not know anything about what people have been through or their circumstances. Unless, of course, you are a friend of Jose and you are going to say it was his bad business practice that put his victims where they are now.

    Your point No.1 – now that hit the nail on the head and YES he should be punished at the highest level through the Courts.

    You are going to get a lot of peoples’ backs up if you continue to express your defensive comments.

  104. hi search in hand …. look im not a victim of this man but i was a victim of a misuse of power of attorney with a different so called lawyer and after three years won my case in court but got a few grey hairs in the process . my point is ripping off on a power of attorney is one thing but investors who dont get profit is quite another . sorry if my opinion offends but that is how I see it and this is an o`pen comment forum so

  105. Dear Carol
    you have obviously failed to read my comment correctly , i at no point said its ok to steal as long as its not from a spaniard …. and having reread my comment just to ensure no typo had taken place , i will again state . A MISUSE OF A PODER IS A SERIOUS CRIME PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISIONMENT.

    POINT 2 A FAILED INVESTMENT IS IS DIFFERENT TO A MISUSE OF POWER OF ATTORNEY AS THIS IS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION AND AS IN UK ALL INVESTMENTS CARRY A WARNING THAT THE VALUE OF INVESTMENTS MAY GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP.
    I trust this clarifies my previous statement to your satisfaction.

  106. louielou,

    Please there is no need to shout.

    Your first mistake was to seemingly defend the actions of this crook (whether that was the intention or not that is how it was construde).

    Although some investers have lost money through him, thats the business market and the risk investers take.

    However most of the people this man stole from were not investers they were pensioners moving to a warmer climate and living of the proceeds from the sale of a house in the UK or another group often refered to as the 20,000$ millionaires who are people who sold their homes in the UK after getting the Council reduction on buying their council houses and also wanting a better life, buying a home and getting jobs in local bars. People taking early retirment and purchasing a small bar to make a living in the sun.

    There is a lot of pain louielou.

  107. Hi Karen ,
    Sorry for shouting , My comment was never intended to defend what is indefensible ,the abuse of a poder to steal is a matter very close to my heart having been a victim of this earlier in my life and I hope that he is made to return any funds he missapropriated without delay. All clients who lost money in this way have every right to be angry and distressed and my comment wasnt made to add to that.
    I was trying to highlight the difference between the cases of genuine fraud ,where purchasers and sellers have lost everything and the speculative investors and former business associates of this person who seem to be jumping on the bandwagon.
    Furthermore I would like to point out that thankfully I have no personal knowledge of this man .

  108. Hi Louie
    Thank you for the apology and I can understand your reasoning.

    You are very fortunate not to have known this person. As well as stealing all of my in-laws money (Carol above) he has the paperwork for land we bought (UK equivalent to the deeds), this cant be sold without the paperwork so although he didnt steal money directly from my partner and I we will have money to pay out in order to get replacements somehow.

    To everyone else in this thread – stay strong and fingers crossed.

    Karen x

  109. Doesn´t anyone know what the latest is?. i have read that he has been bailed but until when? I did not know about the last court hearing until afterwards and even though I was not in a position financially to join the association I was still heavily defrauded by Jose and I would like the opportunity to be present at the next hearing (assuming that victims are allowed to attend. Any help appreciated.
    Thanks

  110. I can tell everybody that KEITH BALL is set to appear in the main Malaga Court in November this year and you are all very welcome to come along. He is facing a 50k payback and the maximum sentence of 6 years in prison. Counting the days!!!

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