CCTV probed after inmate alleges attempted sexual assault by Comella prison officer

Security-camera footage from the Comella penitentiary has become central to an internal and police inquiry after a female inmate accused a prison officer of an attempted sexual assault, prison sources say.

According to those sources, the recordings show the officer entering the woman’s cell on two occasions but remaining out of the cameras’ view for only a few seconds each time. That timeline, they say, conflicts with the inmate’s account that the officer stayed for about half an hour.

The same sources say the officer went to the module at the inmate’s request to process an order for products that inmates are not allowed to bring into their cells. He returned a second time to hand over the order document. The only physical contact visible on the footage is the inmate touching the officer’s arms and face, apparently telling him she was cold; the officer is seen reprimanding her for that behaviour.

The inmate, however, told investigators the officer grabbed her by the waist and attempted to kiss her before she forced him out of the cell. After she raised the alarm, staff activated an internal “code lila,” and the woman was taken by ambulance to Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell for a forensic examination. She later filed a complaint with the police.

The officer appeared voluntarily before investigators and gave a detailed statement, sources say. Prison management has issued internal instructions to prevent contact between the two while the investigation continues.

The episode has prompted surprise and frustration among a number of prison staff. The Sindicat Penitenciari Andorrà (SPA) formally asked the administration to activate body/chest cameras that the union says were bought around six years ago and remain unused in storage, arguing the devices would quickly clarify incidents by providing direct footage.

Nearly three weeks after the request, officials at the ministry and prison direction had not publicly confirmed whether the stored cameras would be deployed or outlined any protocol for their use, according to sources. Staff also noted that there are only about 37 frontline field officers, and argued that establishing activation procedures should be feasible given those staffing levels.

Employees expressed additional concern that, during the incident, attention was focused on a single module while other modules were left with reduced coverage, a situation they said posed potential risks. The investigation into the reported assault remains ongoing and authorities have not released a public statement detailing the evidence or next steps.