Andorra Court Rejects Buiques Brother's House Arrest Appeal

Andorra's Superior Court has rejected an appeal from one of the brothers convicted in the Buiques extortion case, who requested permission to serve the remainder of his sentence under overnight house arrest.

The criminal chamber's decision on 28 November fully upholds a first-instance ruling, maintaining the current semi-liberty regime. The convict, allowed daytime releases but required to spend nights at the penitentiary centre, argued for expanded conditions to address psychological harm to his five-year-old daughter. His lawyer emphasised the child's wellbeing, the man's good conduct, completion of two-thirds of his 4.5-year sentence, and how home overnights would stabilise the family and support reintegration.

Prosecutors opposed the change, stressing that house arrest is exceptional and requires strict legal criteria not met here. The judges ruled that no new or sufficiently compelling factors justified altering the terms, despite the family claims.

This outcome continues a pattern of restrictive decisions in the case. The Superior Court has previously denied semi-liberty requests, and the Constitutional Court rejected related appeals from the brothers. In earlier hearings, one brother stated he had "learned the lesson" and aimed for full societal reintegration, but such efforts have not swayed rulings on penitentiary benefits.