Spanish judicial authorities have formally dismissed a sexual assault and human trafficking complaint brought against the veteran singer Julio Iglesias, determining that the country's courts lack jurisdiction to proceed with the case.
Jurisdictional Grounds for Dismissal
Prosecutors at Spain's highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, issued a decision on Friday rejecting the complaint filed by two former employees. The central argument presented was that Spanish courts "lacked jurisdiction" because the alleged criminal acts did not occur within Spanish territory.
The filing, which has been reviewed by international news agencies, clarifies that while the Audiencia Nacional cannot hear the case, the complainants may still seek prosecution in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, where the alleged incidents are said to have taken place.
Nature of the Allegations
The complaint emerged following a three-year joint investigation conducted by the Spanish news outlet elDiario.es and the Spanish-language television network Univision Noticias. The investigation gathered testimony from fifteen former employees who worked for the 82-year-old singer between the late 1990s and 2023.
The two named complainants, a domestic worker and a physical therapist employed at Iglesias's mansions in the Caribbean, accused the entertainer of subjecting them to "inappropriate touching, insults and humiliation" within what they described as "an atmosphere of control and constant harassment."
One woman, identified under the pseudonym Rebeca for her protection, provided detailed accounts alleging that Iglesias, then 77, would frequently summon her to his room at the end of the working day. She claimed he would then penetrate her anally and vaginally with his fingers without her consent, stating, "He used me almost every night. I felt like an object, like a slave." She further alleged these assaults often occurred in the presence of, and with participation from, another employee who was her superior.
A second complainant, using the pseudonym Laura, alleged that Iglesias kissed her on the mouth and touched her breasts without consent. The published investigation also included documents suggesting Iglesias allegedly ordered some female employees to undergo tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
Iglesias's Vehement Denial
The singer, whose career spans an impressive six decades, has categorically denied all allegations. In a statement posted on his Instagram account a week prior to the prosecutors' decision, Iglesias expressed his profound distress over the accusations.
"With great regret, I am responding to the allegations from two people who used to work in my house," he wrote. "I have never abused, coerced or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and pain me deeply." He further vowed to defend himself against what he termed "a serious affront."
The dismissal on jurisdictional grounds brings a temporary legal conclusion to this aspect of the case in Spain, though the serious nature of the allegations and the singer's forceful rebuttal ensure the matter remains a subject of significant public and media attention across Europe and the Americas.
