Simon HunterSPAIN’S Policia Nacional arrested a group of six people on Thursday after they refused to pay a restaurant bill of more than €12,000 in the Balearic Island of Ibiza.
In a statement, the police said that the group was made up of a 77-year-old man of British origin, and five women aged between 24 and 39, and from Argentina, Greece and Poland.
They are facing fraud charges after they would not cough up the hefty charge, which had been racked up thanks to the consumption of expensive alcoholic drinks and dishes.
When staff at the establishment realised what was happening, and that the €12,300 charge was not going to be settled, they called the police.
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Officers from the Policia Nacional arrived on the scene and were told by the group that a supposed seventh guest had reserved the table, and had made it understood that they would pay the bill.
This person, however, had left the establishment some 10 minutes earlier, the group claimed.
The practice of not paying for a meal is known in Spain as a ‘sinpa’, which comes from the Spanish sin pagar (without paying).
Back in May, a restaurant in Gran Canaria suffered a fire in its kitchen, prompting patrons from a total of 15 tables at the establishment to leave without settling their tabs.
