The senior official of the Balearic Government dismissed a few months ago after it was learned that he was accused of a crime of sexual assault alleges that, at the time of the events, he was drunk and did not control his actions. Juan Antonio SerraFerrer was appointed general director of the public telecommunications and innovation company (Ibetec), a position that depended on the vice president of the Government, Antoni Costa, who was aware of the accusations against him.
Juan Antonio Serra Ferrer is accused of sexual assault and has been tried for trying to lick the face and kiss a stranger. The Prosecutor’s Office is asking for three years in prison because, in addition, Serra attacked one of the police officers who were trying to arrest him when he tried to flee after a spectator of the events notified the National Police. The man was finally arrested and spent the night in the National Police cells.
In the letter he sent to the court, Serra Ferrer declares himself innocent and demands his acquittal, according to Utima Hora. He also points out that he has paid 2,000 euros in compensation to the victim and defends that there was no attack on the police officer. However, the police report states that the officer who tried to arrest him received a strong impact in the jaw for which he had to be treated.
The vice president of the Government agreed to the sudden dismissal when the opening of the oral trial became known, but he himself later had to admit that he already knew about the accusations of sexual assault when he elected Serra Ferrer for a position in the Balearic Government. The entire opposition demanded the resignation of number two Marga Prohens, but there have been no resignations, although the Balearic vice president apologized for his “wrong” decision.
The vice president was a personal friend of the accused, with whom he had also met at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), where Serra Ferrer was an associate professor. The UIB board of directors opened a file and decided to suspend their employment relationship when the facts became known. The vice president of the Balearic Government was also aware of this situation.
The accused now defends that he is innocent and assures that he acted under the influence of alcohol, for which he asks that he be acquitted. The Government of Marga Prohens continues to appoint, for now, a substitute to occupy this position dependent on the Vice Presidency and Ministry of the Economy.
