Andorra Court Hears Case of Portuguese Waiter Accused of Racist Slurs Against Peruvian Colleague

Andorra's Tribunal de Corts held an oral hearing on Thursday against a 40-year-old Portuguese temporary waiter charged with a continued serious offence of public insult and discrimination based on origin.

Prosecutors requested 18 months of qualified conditional prison, a two-year no-contact order with the victim—a 43-year-old Peruvian resident—and €3,000 in moral damages. They argued the incidents, mainly in 2021, involved repeated racist slurs against the man, who worked as kitchen supervisor at a Pas de la Casa restaurant where the defendant was a waiter. The victim confirmed his complaint, detailing daily insults such as "sudaca de merda," "llatí de merda," and "peruà de merda" at work, in the street, and even while walking his dog. He described one episode involving spitting and said the pressure led him to relocate to Encamp to avoid the accused. Prosecutors pointed to at least three specific racist incidents, including one at a fast-food outlet.

The defendant rejected any racism, blaming disputes on the victim's hygiene lapses and poor food handling. He admitted using "porc" for substandard practices—like serving spoiled food that staff refused to eat—but insisted such terms were absent from his vocabulary. To rebut prejudice claims, he cited his South American partner and child, or in one account his family ties of African origin.

Witness accounts diverged. Some supported the victim, reporting slurs like "sudaca" and "panchito" at the fast-food site. Others backed the defence, describing kitchen mismanagement as the root of tensions and denying discriminatory language.

The prosecutor maintained the repeated, discriminatory acts were proven. The defence lawyer sought full acquittal, arguing insufficient evidence of a hate crime, overly reliant victim-friendly witnesses, contradictions in accounts, and no reported moral harm or psychological care by the victim. The court has yet to deliver a ruling.