THE Alhambra €3.5 million fake ticket scam sees a network of 45 people accused of committing fraud between 2002 and 2005 at Spain’s most popular destination.

Granada’s public prosecutors are calling for prison sentences of four to nine years for the hotel workers, travel agents and staff from the Alhambra Palace who were allegedly involved.

They also want an additional €3.1 million to be paid by the defendants, for material damages to the site and for smearing its international image, on top of the €3.5 million they made from the scam.

Hoteliers and travel agents would take money from tourists then take them into the UNESCO World Heritage Site following deals made with the Moorish complex’s head of IT and two officials responsible for the transfer and safekeeping of tickets.

An estimated 50,000 tickets were distributed and a daily excess of about 50% of tourists were allowed in to the site which receives approximately 3 million visitors a year.

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