Else Beekman
The courthouse in Marbella, housed in a dilapidated five-story building, is facing severe operational issues. Of the two lifts in the building, only one is functional, and it frequently breaks down.
Recently, a National Police officer and a detainee were trapped in the malfunctioning lift. After ten minutes in the sweltering heat, the officer had to smash one of the lift windows for ventilation. Eventually, they managed to exit the lift without severe injury, though the fire department was called to assist.
Not an isolated incident
However, this wasn’t the first time such an incident occurred. A few months prior, local police officers were similarly trapped with a detainee. The fire department has now requested a new safety report on the Marbella courthouse building.
“Unbearable situation”
The Judicial Workers’ Union (STAJ) has labelled the situation as unbearable. The single working lift serves five courtrooms and the public, leading to frequent breakdowns. STAJ has reported 16 malfunctions since August last year. Moreover, the second lift has been out of service for an extended period.
Renovation issues
Renovation efforts are stalled due to outdated tender prices from 2021, making the project financially unappealing for contractors. This has resulted in the suspension of the tender process, leaving the building in a precarious state.