Andorra Tribunal Superior Hears Appeals in Four Serious Criminal Cases

Andorra's Tribunal Superior Hears Appeals in Four Criminal Cases

Andorra's Tribunal Superior has held oral hearings for appeals in four serious criminal convictions, involving child sexual abuse, violent rape of a flatmate, drug supply with assault, and discrimination alongside theft.

The first case saw a 42-year-old Filipino man challenge his 15-year prison term, handed down by Tribunal de Corts on 25 February, for repeated major sexual offences including rape and family abuse against his daughter between ages four and 12. The original ruling revoked his parental authority, imposed a 12-year no-contact order, awarded €15,000 in moral damages and 20-year expulsion from Andorra. Defence lawyers highlighted inconsistencies in the girl's testimony—the sole direct evidence—such as shifting accounts of abuse frequency from three times monthly over two or three years to twice yearly, with the judgment referencing only one incident at age four. They cited the multi-year delay in her complaint at age 14, her description as a happy schoolgirl amid unrelated family disputes, and potential misinterpretation of a 2017 incident. Prosecutors defended the conviction, emphasising repeated acts mainly after lunch or at night, expert analysis tying her psychological harm to the abuse, a behavioural change post-trip, and absence of confusion with other paternal figures. The public session closed midway to shield the now 14-year-old victim, with the tribunal to decide on future contact. Deliberations are ongoing.

In the second appeal, a 33- or 34-year-old Colombian resident contested his six-year sentence—with 20 months firm, nearly 19 months already served, a 12-year no-contact order and 15 years' expulsion—for violently raping his flatmate, the employer's partner, in their Aixirivall residence last summer. Prosecutors sought an increase to nine years' full imprisonment, arguing the original judgment lacked justification, minimised the offence's severity in a shared home involving neck-grabbing and non-consensual acts after a night out, and unduly prioritised expulsion over jail given his status. The defence pushed for acquittal or nullity due to rights violations, particularly a pre-trial victim statement barring cross-examination against later evidence including witnesses, forensics, phone records and her videos stating "you tried to touch me" or "you tried to rape me." They questioned the assault and rape classification plus narrative discrepancies. A ruling is pending.

Yesterday's third hearing examined a 10-year prison sentence from Tribunal de Corts against a man for major MDMA supply offences in a leisure centre, qualified rape of an unconscious victim, and minor public drug use. The defence contended the supply fell short of strict trafficking given "infinitesimal" or "very reduced" quantities, seeking sentence revocation and pardon. Prosecutors upheld the logic, a strict trafficking view in leisure venues, and rejection of clemency based on precedent. The private prosecution supported maintaining the term; deliberations continue.

This morning's session reviewed a man's appeal against a 14-month firm sentence from Batllia on 9 March 2026 for two major discrimination offences and ongoing minor theft over €600. The defence stressed the penalty's rehabilitative aim, his bipolar disorder diagnosis and complex personality, plus a partial six-month pardon for a fresh start after one year at La Comella. Prosecutors opposed, citing his habitual offender status with an integrated penalty already in place. The man acknowledged his record—four prison terms aged 18-25, three more sentences since, now his longest—noting psychiatric issues, substance-related crimes and deep remorse: "I am convinced I will not offend again." The tribunal adjourned for its decision.