Spanish Farm Manager Acquitted in Sexual Abuse Case Involving Moroccan Workers

The Moroccan seasonal workers arrived in Huelva on April 27, 2018 to participate in that year’s campaign. During their 30-day trial period, they resided in the accommodations provided to them by the farm. Not having been ultimately retained for the campaign on the basis of productivity criteria set, they were asked to vacate the residences and return to Morocco, which they "refused" and filed a complaint with the Cartaya Civil Guard on May 25, 2018, recalls the judge in his decision to which Europa Press had access.

During their stay on the farm, the seasonal workers "benefited from the assistance of the accused who accessed their residence, alone or accompanied by an interpreter, to hand them documents or inform them of the working conditions." It was during these visits that he would have abused them, they specified in their complaint. Unsubstantiated and not very detailed statements, the judge considers, who does not find sufficient elements attesting that the accused acted against the alleged victims.

Moreover, "none of the witnesses who testified corroborated the facts presented by the plaintiffs," the decision specifies, noting that no employee of the farm had accused the defendant of similar acts during the six years he had collaborated with several waves of Moroccan seasonal workers. The plaintiffs also insisted that the accused abused his position to sexually assault them at their workplace and in the residences. These facts have not been established, the judge ruled, who decided to acquit the accused.