– GUARDIA CIVIL
The Civil Guard of the Region of Murcia has carried out an investigation to identify, locate and arrest the driver of a van that was intercepted on the N-340 road, in the municipality of Lorca (Murcia), and who fled after failing to prove possession of a driving licence.
The driver was located three hours later and investigated as the alleged perpetrator of the crime of driving without ever having obtained a driving licence, and the owner of the vehicle, as the alleged perpetrator of necessary cooperation for the commission of the criminal offence, according to sources from the Benemérita in a statement.
The investigation began when civil guards from the Lorca Traffic Detachment, who were carrying out a checkpoint aimed at controlling vehicles transporting agricultural workers, on the N-340 road, in the municipality of Lorca, stopped a van whose driver could not prove his identity, nor be in possession of the corresponding driving licence.
The young driver verbally gave them his name and surname, which did not allow him to be fully identified, so the Civil Guards told him that they would accompany him to his home in Lorca where he claimed to have all the documentation, at which point he fled on foot.
The Civil Guards began a series of enquiries until they identified the owner of the vehicle, a resident of Lorca who, after being located, claimed that he had lent his van to a friend – of whom he could offer few details – knowing that he did not have a driving licence, and was therefore investigated as a necessary co-operator in the commission of a crime against road safety.
Numerous subsequent enquiries led to the location of the suspect, a 32 year old Moroccan male from Lorca, who was not in possession of a driving licence issued by the Directorate General of Traffic, nor any other valid licence issued in other countries, and was therefore investigated as the alleged perpetrator of the offence of driving a motor vehicle or moped without ever having obtained a driving licence.
The Guardia Civil recalled that the offence of driving a motor vehicle or moped without ever having obtained a driving licence or permit is included in article 384 of the Penal Code and can be punished with prison sentences of 3 to 6 months or with a fine of 12 to 24 months and community service of 31 to 90 days.
Furthermore, he pointed out that article 28 of the current Penal Code defines a necessary co-operator as a person who helps in the execution of a criminal act, with an act without which it would not have been carried out, and is liable to the same penalty as the perpetrator of the crime committed.
The two persons under investigation, the vehicle used and the proceedings were placed at the disposal of the Court of Instruction number 7 of Lorca (Murcia).