Andorra Court Concludes Closed Hearings in Two Sexual Assault Cases

Andorra's Tribunal de Corts has concluded closed-door hearings this week in two sexual assault cases to protect the victims' privacy. In the first, prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison term for a 47-year-old man held in custody since May 1, 2024, on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a minor under 14 by an ascendant relative, continuous sexual assault amounting to rape in that context, and minor domestic maltreatment of a minor. The alleged abuse took place when his daughter was 4 to 10 years old; now 15, she revealed it five years later to a trusted confidant. She was placed in protective custody in the early hours of April 30, 2024, after finishing a restaurant shift. Investigators deemed her account credible, supported by key evidence, despite the man's denial and initial refusal to testify. The Monday and Tuesday sessions exposed a reportedly toxic family environment marked by frequent mistreatment. Prosecutors upheld the charges, citing new details that strengthened her claims. The accused acknowledges inadequate parenting and occasional overreactions but denies any sexual conduct. His defense argues for acquittal on all sexual charges, including rape, pointing to the penal code's wording at the time—"sexual acts" rather than implying violence or intimidation. They accept responsibility for maltreatment and, as a fallback, a two-year sentence, roughly equivalent to time already served.

In the second case, hearings began Monday against a 33-year-old Colombian man charged with major sexual assault on his 31-year-old roommate, who was also their employer's partner. The incident allegedly occurred at their shared home in Aixirivall on the night of July 14, 2024; he has remained in provisional detention since. His defense seeks full acquittal, highlighting inconsistencies in the woman's account and weak evidence. Testifying in court, he categorically denied the allegations, describing their relationship as one of "trust and friendship." He recounted a night out together—after her friend canceled—marked by alcohol consumption and talks about her relationship with their boss. Tensions rose, leading to a casino ejection and a verbal clash back home. He admitted a struggle to get her out of his room but denied immobilizing her, touching her under her clothes, or attempting rape. He said she threatened to report him, recorded audio to pressure him amid her personal and work conflicts, and received his next-day apology for "the situation created," not any assault. The woman, who testified in December 2024, gave a contrasting account: after drinking, he turned controlling, grabbed her neck, threw her on the bed, and groped her genitals despite her protests, though without clear penetration. In shock, she recorded part of the aftermath, confided in friends that night, and delayed reporting until late August due to fear, isolation, and lack of support from her partner, who evicted her. She later sought help from the Women's Institute, hotel lodging, and psychological treatment, demanding no further contact with him and skipping the hearing to avoid revictimization. The court ruled her initial statement sufficient. Proceedings continue with witness and expert testimony.

Separately, on Wednesday, the Tribunal de Corts approved extradition to Spain of a man convicted there in 2023 via plea deal to a five-year sentence for continuous sexual assault on a minor and abuse from 2013-2016—described in reports as involving his adoptive daughters in Seville around 2015, or a double rape. The court rejected his request to serve the term at La Comella prison, despite his established life in Andorra with a partner and two children, one of whom died recently at 18. Suffering from autism, he described detention hardships including suicide attempts, called Andorra his true home, labeled Spain "stained with my son's blood," blamed the boy's biological mother for his death, and warned of irreversible mental health damage from extradition. Prosecutors confirmed all legal requirements were met. The defense plans to appeal to the Tribunal Superior.