Antoni Femenías, former councillor of the PP in Selva, testified this week before the judge in Inca as an accused in the sale of the Es Tersal estate in 2020, an operation for which Mayor Joan Rotger is also being investigated for alleged misconduct and embezzlement.
The former councillor of the Partido Popular (PP) of Selva, Antoni Femenías Cifre, appeared a few days ago at the judicial headquarters in Inca as an accused in the sale of the Es Tersal estate in Caimari to the Town Hall of Selva in 2020. This same operation has led the judge to investigate the municipality's mayor, the popular Joan Rotger, for alleged crimes of misconduct, embezzlement, fraud against the administration, and influence peddling.
The former councillor's testimony
Femenías, who was a co-owner of one-eighth of the estate along with other family members, admitted that he knows Joan Rotger as they are party colleagues and have worked together in the Town Hall for several years, both in opposition and in leading the municipal government. His testimony, which had been postponed last year for personal reasons, focused on detailing the history of the plot.
The former councillor explained that the Town Hall had always been interested in those lands, regardless of the political colour of the government. According to his account, years ago the site was used as a car park and the Town Hall paid rent for it. Another area had been ceded by the family for the entrances and exits of the Caimari school.
The municipal interest in the estate
Femenías recalled that the previous municipal government, from the centre-left coalition, indicated to him that they were going to carry out a declaration of general interest to create an emergency exit on those lands. However, in the end, it was not declared of general interest and the estate was returned to him, which would have caused him economic harm.
The Town Hall of Selva, led by Joan Rotger, had already attempted to purchase the plot in 2016 with the aim of ceding the land to the Govern to build the new school in Caimari. An option to purchase was even signed that was not executed because a motion of no confidence ousted the PP from local power, thwarting the project.
The deserted tender and the direct purchase
Four years later, in 2020, the Town Hall called for a tender to acquire land to relocate the new ethnological centre for a maximum price of €9.79 per square metre. No one submitted a bid and the tender was declared deserted. Shortly afterwards, the Town Hall directly acquired the Es Tersal estate for a price of €38.45 per square metre, which is four times more than what was initially stipulated, according to the summary.
This price difference is one of the focal points of the judicial investigation, which seeks to determine whether there was preferential treatment or irregularities in the operation. Mayor Joan Rotger already testified before the judge last June, denying any illegality and defending that the purchase complied with the law.
For the residents of Selva and Caimari, the case has generated anticipation, as the estate was known for its use as a car park and its connection to the school project. The investigation remains open and new proceedings are expected in the coming weeks.
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