The Investigating Court 17 of Barcelona has cited the former Minister of Health as investigated Josep Maria Argimon (Together) for allegedly delaying the vaccination against the coronavirus to police officers (of the National Police) and civil guards stationed in Catalonia when he was secretary of Public Health in the Ministry that he directed at the time Alba Vergés (ERC).
In addition to Armigon, the court has also cited as witnesses the former Secretary General of Health Marc Ramentol; to the lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard responsible for vaccination in Catalonia, Esteban Gómez, and to the coordinator and person in charge of the vaccination process of the National Police, Daniel Rapado, “to find out how and through whom the communication to paralyze the vaccination”.
In relation to the decision to take a witness statement from Vergés, currently acting president of the autonomous Parliament, has been denied since “it is not necessary because until now no one has attributed any participation in the questioned decision-making.”
In the judicial brief, according to Ep, it is also requested the dismissal and the file of the cause for the secretary of Public Health, Carmen Cabezas; the former director of the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), Adrià Comella; the former director of CatSalut’s organizations and professionals area, Sara Manjón, and the former director of Health Counseling Services, Xavier Rodríguez, as investigators.
Facts dating back to 2021
In December 2021, the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) ruled that the Generalitat’s vaccination plan was “discriminatory” for the members of the National Police and the Civil Guard in the community. The court upheld the appeal filed by the Association of the Civil Guard, Civil Justice (Jucil) and Police Justice (Jupol) against the Ministry and ordered to continue vaccinating police officers and civil guards “on equal terms” with other officials of essential activities .
The same court that now quotes Argimon and called to testify as investigated for possible discrimination in the vaccination process against the then senior Health officials Carmen Cabezas -she was deputy general director of Health Promotion and is now secretary of Public Health-, Sara Manjón -former director of the Organizations and Professionals area of the Catalan Health Service -, Xavier Rodríguez Guasch -he was director of Services of the Department of Health- and Adrià Comella, who was director of CatSalut.
Before, the TSJC had ruled out a complaint against Vergés when it found no evidence against her, and agreed to send the case to the ordinary courts to investigate which authorities “could fail to comply with their duty to act” according to health regulations. Now, after learning of the decision to impute Argimon, Jupol has indicated that the decision of the Court “does nothing more than confirm the injustice suffered by thousands of agents of the National Police and the Civil Guard in Catalonia and once again highlights the discriminatory treatment received by the State security forces and bodies by the Generalitat”.
