In mid-June 2017, Santi Mina, then a notable Valencia forward, was detained in Mojácar, Almería, on allegations of sexual abuse reported by a woman. At that time Mina was 21 years old and held at the Civil Guard facilities overnight. He appeared in court the following day for a speedy hearing and was released without bail, with no charges brought at that stage (Source: contemporary media reports).
The complaint from the victim followed events near Mandala Beach nightclub in Mojácar, where Mina, who was vacationing in the town on a Thursday night, hosted a gathering with friends. One individual, later identified in subsequent coverage, had previously played as a youth at Celta and reportedly spent the night with the woman involved in the case (Source: archival reporting).
Further allegations involving Mina and other football players
Witnesses at the time described Mina in a vehicle not fully clothed, with the accuser alleging inappropriate touching and an attempted sexual act carried out in the presence of a companion. The complainant stated that a relationship proposed by Mina did not proceed because she resisted, according to the account given to authorities (Source: initial investigations).
Following the report, Mina was detained briefly and then released on bail after a rapid court appearance in Vera, with the proceedings awaiting a judge’s final decision (Source: court records and media summaries).
Subsequently, the complainant reportedly questioned the severity of the claims, while Valencia CF acknowledged the complaint and urged prudence and due process, noting the presumption of innocence for Mina. The club ultimately suspended public commentary while legal developments unfolded. In later years, Real Club Celta de Vigo would initiate a transfer for Mina, even as the investigation continued regarding alleged sexual misconduct (Source: club statements and reporting).
Santi Mina and a four-year prison sentence for sexual abuse
By December 2019, Instruction Court No. 1 of Vera (Almería) ordered a formal investigation into the alleged sexual assault involving Mina and another player, David Goldar, connected with events in Mojácar. The case also involved Nástic de Tarragona and raised questions about Mina’s involvement and possible complicity (Source: court proceedings and contemporary press).
Goldar appeared before the judge for testimony, and both players faced questioning as part of the proceedings. The legal questions centered on whether Mina acted with complicity or contributed negligently to any harm, with outcomes dependent on courtroom findings (Source: court transcripts and reporting).
In March 2022, the Almería State Court delivered its ruling. In the oral phase, Mina faced up to eight years in prison for sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Mojácar; the court eventually reduced the sentence to four years, deeming the acts as sexual abuse under the applicable statutes (Source: court ruling and press coverage).
Over the ensuing years, Mina kept his silence regarding the case. He limited public comments to sports matters with his club and LaLiga media, while Celta Vigo publicly supported the presumption of innocence and maintained his status in the squad during the legal process, even as the incident persisted as a point of discussion for both Valencia CF and Celta Vigo (Source: club communications and media reports).
In mid-June 2017, Santi Mina, then a Valencia player, was detained in Mojácar, Almería, on accusations of sexual abuse by a woman. Mina, aged 21 at the time, spent the night in custody. He appeared in court the next day for a rapid hearing and was released without bail and without charges at that time (Source: initial press coverage).
The complaint stemmed from events near Mandala Beach nightclub in Mojácar, where Mina, vacationing that Thursday night, was hosting a party with friends. One participant, later named in coverage, had previously spent the night with the woman involved (Source: historical news reports).
Another dozen sexual offenses attributed to Mina and other footballers
At the time, reports described Mina in a vehicle and allegedly exposed, with the accuser indicating inappropriate contact and an attempted sexual act in the presence of a friend. The relationship Mina reportedly sought did not proceed as the woman resisted (Source: contemporaneous statements).
Following the report, Mina was arrested and held briefly before being released on bail after a formal court appearance in Vera, with the legal process pending (Source: police and court notes).
The accuser later suggested the allegations might have been exaggerated, and Valencia CF, aware of the complaint, urged prudence and common sense, underscoring Mina’s presumption of innocence. The club, like Mestalla, refrained from passing judgment and waited for the legal process to unfold. Later, in 2019, Real Club Celta de Vigo announced their decision to pursue Mina’s transfer, noting that he remained under investigation for alleged misconduct (Source: club statements and media coverage).
Santi Mina sentenced to four years in prison for sexual abuse
By late 2019, Instruction Court No. 1 of Vera initiated further examination into the allegations involving Mina and his associates connected to Mojácar. The proceedings involved Minas’s co-defendant, David Goldar, who was summoned to testify and participate as a witness (Source: court records).
The question of Mina’s direct culpability versus negligent involvement remained a focus of the judicial process. By March 2022, the Almería State Court delivered its decision in Division III, stating that Mina faced up to eight years for sexual assault; the court ultimately classified the acts as sexual abuse and reduced the sentence to four years (Source: court decision and reporting).
During the five-year period since the initial complaint, Mina did not engage with media interviews, choosing to limit public remarks to sports matters with his club or LaLiga outlets. Celta Vigo publicly supported the presumption of innocence and kept Mina in their squad, while both Valencia CF and Celta Vigo condemned sexual misconduct but refrained from penalizing the player in absence of a final conviction (Source: club responses and media coverage).