Police arrest former tourism director of Bal Harbour

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police have arrested the former tourism director for the City of Bal Harbour.

Bal Harbour Police have accused former Tourism Director Jose Lima of stealing thousands and thousands of dollars from the city. From 2003 to at least 2008, authorities said Lima used a village-issued credit card to pay for things such as his groceries, dry cleaning, eye glasses, cash advances and pet grooming.

Prosecutors said Lima racked up $18,000 in personal expenses. "Yeah, to me there is no excuse. I don't care what he was making. There is no excuse for taking money from the people," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle. "The rules were clear. He charged it, the evidence is clear. Not only did he abuse the charging abilities that he had on his credit card, he also took cash."

The village manager tried to explain how this situation flew under the radar for so long. "He is the type of person who in his position had to make numerous charges because he traveled all around Europe and everywhere for us, Northeast United States, promoting Bal Harbour, so he could conceal certain things within many charges on a bill," said Alfred Treppeda.

Lima faces one count of third degree grand theft. He posted a $5,000 bond Tuesday night.

Officials said Lima resigned from his job and paid the money back.

(Copyright 2009 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)