The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona has begun investigating a complaint filed by the University of Barcelona (UB) on December 22nd against Professor Ramón Flecha and his research group, CREA. According to reports, the Prosecutor’s Office has accepted the complaint and initiated an investigation to determine whether to bring the case before a court, and if so, on what charges.
Investigation Launched Amid Allegations
The UB announced on December 22nd that its internal report had detected “very serious” facts potentially constituting “conducts of sexual coercion, psychological coercion, mistreatment, personal and professional exploitation, as well as degrading and intimidating behaviors,” suggesting the existence of a “highly controlling coercive group.” Despite the ongoing internal investigation, the university submitted its initial report to the Prosecutor’s Office as a precautionary measure. The CREA group announced its dissolution one day later.
Sources at the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office confirm that the investigation will be carried out by the newly formed section dedicated to cases of sexual violence, as well as violence against children and adolescents.
Previous Allegations and University Response
In addition to the complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office, the UB removed three other professors linked to the CREA group. Ramón Flecha was previously suspended as an emeritus professor last July, following an investigation by elDiario.es along with RTVE Noticias, Ràdio 4-RNE and Infolibre, which revealed testimony from several subordinates alleging Flecha coerced them into sexual acts, massages, or domestic tasks while their professional careers depended on him. This prompted the University of Barcelona to launch its internal investigation.
As part of the precautionary measures, the UB has also frozen the academic and professional merits under investigation related to the CREA group, preventing them from being considered in faculty selection processes. The university is also providing psychological support to all affected individuals and sharing information about the case with other universities where the research group has a presence.
CREA Group Disbands
The report presented by the UB to the Prosecutor’s Office includes the testimony of 16 people and a psychological expert evaluation of the reliability of the testimonies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the investigation?
The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) on December 22nd against Professor Ramón Flecha and his research group, CREA, following an internal report detailing potentially coercive and exploitative behaviors.
What actions has the UB taken?
The UB has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office, suspended Ramón Flecha as an emeritus professor, removed three other professors linked to the CREA group, frozen academic merits under investigation, and provided psychological support to affected individuals.
What is the next step in the legal process?
The Prosecutor’s Office will investigate the complaint to determine whether to bring the case before a court and, if so, what charges to file.
How will the outcome of this investigation impact the standards of conduct expected within academic institutions?
