The Vila Casas Foundation sues its former general director for embezzlement

BarcelonaThe board of trustees of the Fundació Vila Casas has filed a lawsuit against its former general director, Joan Torras, for disloyal administration, misappropriation, and document forgery, as reported by La Vanguardia. The board of trustees of the foundation created by patron Antoni Vila Casas in 1988 maintains that the accused allegedly illicitly appropriated about 400,000 euros in a year and a half, with personal expenses charged to the institution's bank cards and the simulation of the patron's signature on checks and documents. The lawsuit has already been admitted for processing by a judge in Barcelona.

In a statement, the Fundació Vila Casas explains that, "given the seriousness of the investigated facts," it considers it "necessary to take legal action to protect the entity and its assets, as well as the founder's values and will." Torras began working at the foundation in November 2009, and was appointed general director in April 2013. After Vila Casas's death, in September 2023, Torras continued in his position until he was dismissed in June 2025.