une 18 (Bloomberg) -- Spanish police arrested 23 town hall officials, architects, lawyers and business people in Estepona in the Costa del Sol region on charges of corruption and money laundering.
The arrests took place yesterday as 200 police officers searched 38 homes and businesses, according to a statement from Spain's Interior Ministry. Among those arrested was the town's Mayor, Antonio Barrientos, a member of Spain's ruling Socialist Party. Barrientos was immediately expelled from the party, according to a statement on its Web site.
``Any other officials who may be implicated in the alleged corruption scandal will suffer the same punishment,'' the Web site said.
