A PROTECTED witness was kidnapped outside a Mijas hotel and later shot in the arm in Manilva over four years ago, but now the only suspect has been released. 

Four men allegedly kidnapped a witness, whose identity is protected, outside a Mijas hotel in January 2022, took him to Manilva where they beat him and demanded €100,000 before shooting him in the arm.

The victim suffered serious injuries and required surgery as the bullet struck a nerve in his arm.

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Now, four years later the only suspect has been acquitted, with the court accepting that the events described happened but ruling there was insufficient evidence to convict.

The ruling came after testimony from the victim, who was described as ‘extraordinarily laconic’ in court.

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In addition, the witness failed to identify the suspect as one of his captors either in court or during a pre-trial lineup when asked to pick out the assailant.

The court therefore ruled that although the attack had taken place, there was insufficient evidence to convict the suspect, who walked free after the trial.

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