Forensic police officers spent eight hours examining the Ministry of Equality last Monday, a day before the resignation of department head and Consell vice-president Mónica Oltra. The search warrant was issued by the Valencia Court, with Oltra named as part of the case filed on 18 June 2021 to investigate whether ministry officials neglected an abused minor by an educator. This is the central thread in a broader inquiry into how the case was handled within the department.
During the extended search, forensic investigators focused on the case concerning the minor, filed on August 8, 2017. The matter had previously been characterized by the Valencia Court as harassment, describing it as extrajudicial and aimed at discrediting a minor, raising questions about who authorized the file’s opening. Ministry officials stated that the opening order did not originate from the Minister. A general manager included the file in the case, but the investigating judge now seeks to verify whether all documents of relevance were provided for the record. This episode has generated debate about the chain of command and accountability within the ministry.
In remarks to reporters on March 7, Oltra said that a briefing file had been commissioned to clarify the matter and that colleagues should be left to focus on the facts. The exchange highlighted the need to determine what information existed in the file and why certain steps were taken. This moment underscored the scrutiny facing the ministry and its leadership as the case unfolded.
In defense documents submitted to the Superior Court of Justice, Oltra asserted that her involvement stemmed from concerns about the fairness of the inquiry and the perception of criminal instrumentalization in the proceedings. She pointed to a broader investigation into the professionalism of ministry officials and other professionals involved, emphasizing the importance of due process and accurate fact-finding across all levels of the administration. The letter from Oltra also noted that senior officials had previously argued that the information file was opened at the request of the Director-General for Children and Adolescents following a meeting with the Deputy Director. The Court record on August 8, 2021 confirmed these references as part of the ongoing process.
Search Warrant Details
The original file and a scanned copy were already in the possession of the Judicial Police and the Investigation Court 15, which issued the warrant dated June 13. The head of the Investigation Court had authority to issue the warrant even after sending a reasoned statement to the Superior Court of Justice to review Oltra’s case. In a separate room, the Civil Court of First Instance established a secure area for the confiscated documents to be recorded, limiting access to the parties involved in the investigations conducted by the magistrate. This separation of documents underscored the sensitivity of the materials and the careful handling required in such proceedings.
The warrant was issued just two days before the Superior Court of Justice took jurisdiction over the broader case examining the management of the Niño Jesús Center and its thirteen officials and workers, alongside former Minister Oltra. According to reports from the Judicial Police during their visit to the Ministry, the investigators sought to determine whether any abuse had occurred and, if so, to seize the original directives from 2004 and 2013 that established the action protocol. The implication is that those directives could shape the court’s understanding of how the case was managed, although they involved minors and did not directly address the case at that time. The incident has attracted commentary from political actors and observers about the implications for governance and accountability in the ministry.
The first formal complaint that initiated this inquiry came from José Luis Rodríguez, a leader of a far-right party, who represented the minor’s interests and made a financial request to the Ministry of Equality. This beginning highlights the political dimensions that intersect with investigations into the handling of sensitive child protection cases and the administrative processes in place to respond to such concerns. This context remains a focal point as new documents are reviewed and statements are clarified.
An Indictment and Email Seizures
The decision to register the Ministry of Equality occurred within a confidential filing following a request from one of the accusers to pursue certain procedures, according to ministry sources. The court of record also considered access to emails involving officials who handled the case. This phase of the process reflects the ongoing effort to assemble a complete evidentiary record while balancing confidentiality and the rights of those involved.
The proceedings reveal a complex web of administrative actions and legal steps aimed at ensuring transparency in the handling of allegations related to the abused minor. The items seized, the scope of the inquiry, and the roles of key officials are central to understanding how the case has evolved and what remains under review. The discussions between investigators, ministers, and the judiciary illustrate the tension between political accountability and judicial independence in high-profile investigations.