Jesús Gil

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Jesús Gregorio Gil y Gil (March 11, 1933 – May 14, 2004) was a Spanish politician and businessman.

Born in El Burgo de Osma (province of Soria), Castilla-Leon, he was in the construction business. He spent some time in jail when one of his buildings in Los Ángeles de San Rafael collapsed, killing 58 people. He was the president of the Atlético Madrid football club and a former mayor of Marbella. He founded and led the Grupo Independiente Liberal (GIL) as his political vehicle.

He was quite controversial for his right-wing political views and his alleged shady business dealings and ties to international organized crime. Marbella became a popular residence for British, Italian, and Russian gangsters while he was mayor. At the same time, he was known for severe crackdowns on drug users and lux-prostitutes.

Gil was involved in several criminal cases, including the so called caso de las camisetas and Caso Atlético. In April 2002 he was banned for 28 years from holding public office and was forced to stand down as mayor.[1][2] He died from a brain hemorrhage.

[edit] Trivia

• Had a horse called Imperioso.