Bank employee jailed for defrauding clients of €30,000 in Gran Canaria
The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a former bank employee in Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria, who defrauded a married couple of €30,000. The man, who worked at their local branch, was sentenced to eight months in prison, fined €720, and ordered to return the stolen money with interest.
The bank itself was also declared civilly liable, as his employer, although they had already dismissed him over the incident.
How the fraud was carried out
The incident dates back to 2011, when the employee persuaded the couple, who were long-standing clients of the branch, to put €30,000 in an investment fund. By gaining their trust and establishing a personal relationship, he convinced them to sign documents without fully understanding them.
In 2012, he used his professional credentials to authorise the reimbursement of the fund, transferring the money into an account he “controlled”, and later withdrew it.
The fraud only came to light in early 2015 when the client tried to access part of the investment to pay for some urgent medical expenses. He was then informed that the account had been closed three years earlier and the money had already been withdrawn. To meet his medical costs, the victim was forced to take out several loans, incurring additional financial strain.
Supreme Court ruling
In his appeal, the former employee argued that the case had exceeded the maximum time allowed for investigation and that the bank’s branch director should have appeared as a defendant rather than as a witness.
The Supreme Court acknowledged delays in the investigation but confirmed that an extension had been legally granted due to the case’s complexity. It also ruled that the fraud was proven, highlighting that the man “exceeded the usual limits of a fraud offence by creating a personal bond of trust and affection with his victims, which he then exploited to deceive them.”
The conviction is now final.
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