Navy officials may have tried to derail sex harassment inquiry

For nearly a month, top military officials tried to derail a sexual harassment investigation against a navy lieutenant accused of threatening or blackmailing five ratings if they didn't have sex with him, court testimony shows.

The lieutenant, known by his initials I. E. M., is now under a court inquiry for abuse of authority, but is still in his post as secretary to the director of the navy's economic affairs division. According to his testimony, high officials, including the Auditor General Ángel Montero, legal advisor to the navy's commander, discussed ways last September to prevent the allegations from escalating into a full investigation.

The case began when the lieutenant fired a sailor under his command for disobedience in September. The dismissed man, known only as B., wrote a five-page testimony about an incident that occurred earlier this year when the lieutenant tried to pressure him for sexual favors when he accompanied I. E. M. on an official visit to Ferrol.

The lieutenant told the judge that Montero assured him the written statement was not signed and he would make sure that it remained that way. Montero has denied this version.

During this time, another naval rating, P., who was also on the Ferrol trip, came forward to deny B.'s version but later changed his story and also claimed to be a victim.

On November 11, I. E. M. admitted to the judge to having had sex with the men but said it was with their consent. The lieutenant also acknowledged using military resources for his own use, including two vehicles for his wedding. Both B. and P., who are seeing psychologists, are on medical leave.