Public prosecutors challenge Batllia's closure of CASS overpayments investigation, urging Tribunal de Corts

Andorran public prosecutors have appealed the Batllia's dismissal of the criminal investigation into overpayments of disability pensions by the Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social (CASS), the so-called "pensions scandal."

The investigating judge ended the probe after several months, citing the public entity's insufficient technical and human resources to conduct routine audits and verify benefit amounts. The irregularities involved years of excess payments to individuals with recognised disabilities, but the Batllia found no evidence of criminal liability.

Prosecutors disagree and have filed the appeal with the Tribunal de Corts, urging further inquiry into possible penal responsibilities beyond administrative shortcomings. Legal sources indicate that if accepted, the case could involve fresh witness statements, document requests, or expert reviews of CASS's management and control systems during the period in question.

The prosecutors' move emerged at Monday's short meeting of the General Council's inquiry commission, set up after the scandal to examine the incidents and any political accountability. The commission halted work when the judicial probe began to check for offences. Opposition groups, including Concòrdia, had pushed to restart it following the Batllia's ruling, as previously reported.

The session lasted only minutes once the appeal was revealed, leaving the commission on hold until the courts decide whether to uphold the dismissal or reopen the case. Most parties favour suspension, though Concòrdia leader Cerni Escalé called for resuming parliamentary scrutiny regardless. He told Diari d'Andorra that the appeal shows the matter "is not closed" and stressed the need to probe potential political motives or oversight failures in CASS decisions, adding that "transparency cannot be stalled by a judicial process that could drag on for months."

CASS maintains it fully cooperated with the Batllia, provided all requested data including internal reports on resource gaps, and has since introduced internal reforms to prevent recurrence.

Commission members also appointed Susanna Vela, a social democrat and current group president, as new chair, succeeding Judith Casal who resigned last year for health reasons.

The scandal has eroded public trust in handling funds for people with disabilities and highlighted the need for robust oversight in social benefits administration. The court's ruling will determine the probe's future and the commission's next steps.