Overview
- The Mossos d'Esquadra began a probe after a witness report in late April and carried out judicial searches of clinics in Olesa de Montserrat and Esplugues de Llobregat on 17 June.
- Officers detained five people — four alleged unqualified practitioners and a clinic owner — who face charges of usurping professional status, fraud, practicing without qualification and causing injuries.
- Investigators found poor technical and sanitary conditions, oxidized and moldy material, and expired medical products, leading police to provisionally seal the clinics and a judge to ratify the closure.
- Seized computers and appointment records are being forensically examined and are expected to identify more patients who paid for treatments not completed or who suffered physical harm such as partial facial paralysis.
- Regional labour and health departments helped with inspections and the case could bring further administrative sanctions and criminal prosecutions as authorities trace victims and document the scale of the alleged fraud.