They are said to have thrown butts and alcohol on the thatched roof of a restaurant. Eight of the 13 accused Germans are still in custody – this can last up to four years in Spain.
Four of the 13 German holidaymakers who were accused of arson in Mallorca have been released from custody on bail.
The young men left the prison in the capital Palma on Tuesday evening around 10 p.m., as reported by the newspaper “Diario de Mallorca” and other regional media, citing judicial circles on the Spanish island. Previously, the deposit payments of 12,000 euros each transferred from relatives in Germany had been received, it said.
No bail for other suspects
One of the suspects was released unconditionally on Friday because he could prove that he was in the shower when the fire broke out. The other eight accused, for whom the judge refused to release them on bail, remain in custody until further notice. It was initially completely unclear how long the investigation would take and whether there would be charges and a trial. Pre-trial detention in Spain can last months, but also up to four years.
The young Germans were recently visited by two pastors and a representative of the German consulate, as reported by WDR. According to media reports, the suspects are men between the ages of 24 and 29 who belong to a bowling club in Münster.
Joint and several liability from home
The Germans’ lawyer had previously announced that the families of the vacationers had pooled 500,000 euros for joint and several liability. The suspects wanted to confirm their willingness to cooperate, wrote lawyer Raban Funk from Stolzenau in Lower Saxony in a communiqué. The Spanish investigating magistrate had set the sum.
The Germans are accused of starting a fire near the Ballermann on May 20. They threw burning butts and alcohol from the balcony of their hotel room onto the thatched roof of the terrace of a restaurant below. The roof caught fire and two pubs, an apartment and parts of the restaurant were damaged. Two people suffered minor injuries. The young people deny setting the fire.
The lawyer said that an expert report on the origin of the fire commissioned by the Spanish investigative authority was not yet available. However, this report will “reveal further, objectively exculpatory moments,” wrote the lawyer.
