Spanish prosecutors have dismissed a complaint alleging sexual abuse, human trafficking and labour violations against the veteran singer Julio Iglesias.
In a decision issued on Friday, prosecutors shelved a preliminary inquiry after it was determined that they lacked jurisdiction because the alleged acts took place in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, and neither of the complainants were Spanish or resident in Spain.
“The preliminary investigation is dismissed due to the lack of jurisdiction of the Spanish courts and therefore the lack of competence [of the High Court prosecutors],” the filing said.
The complaint was filed on January 5 by rights group Women’s Link Worldwide on behalf of two former employees of Iglesias, a domestic worker and a physiotherapist. The women alleged they suffered sexual and other forms of abuse while employed at the singer’s residences in the Caribbean in 2021.
The complaint came after a report, published by elDiario.es, a Spanish news website, included testimony from two women. One called the mansion she worked in “the house of horror”.
Iglesias, 82, said in a post on social media last week: “I deny having abused, coerced or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and cause me great sadness.”
Iglesias and his wife Miranda Rijnsburger
DAVE KOTINSKY/GETTY IMAGES
He said he had never encountered “so much malice”, but added that he had the strength “for people to know the whole truth” and to defend his dignity “against such a great affront”. He thanked supporters and said he had drawn comfort from the messages of affection and loyalty he had received.
Prosecutors said the country’s principle of universal jurisdiction — under which courts may hear cases for certain serious crimes committed abroad — was limited and required a relevant link to Spain.
The filing noted that the complainants do not have Spanish nationality, do not live in Spain and do not maintain their “centre of life, interests or activity” in the country. It said there was no evidence that the women had travelled to Spain with Iglesias in connection with their employment.
Women’s Link Worldwide said this month that it chose to file the complaint in Spain because of the country’s legal framework on human trafficking and gender-based violence, arguing that international treaties signed by Spain could provide access to justice.
The organisation said it did not wish to pursue the case in the Dominican Republic or the Bahamas. Spanish prosecutors said the dismissal was procedural and did not amount to a ruling on the merits of the allegations.