Julio Iglesias faces fresh legal action in Spain over sexual abuse and forced labour allegations

The women, who are being identified under the pseudonyms Rebeca and Laura, have now filed a formal criminal complaint against the 82-year-old singer before the investigative section of Spain’s National Court, according to Women’s Link Worldwide, the organisation providing them with legal assistance.

The move effectively reopens the battle over whether Spanish justice can investigate allegations concerning events said to have taken place at Iglesias’s properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in 2021. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias faces sexual assault allegations from former live-in staff at Caribbean homes.

The two women – one of whom worked as a domestic employee and the other as a physiotherapist – allege they were subjected to sexual and other forms of abuse while employed by the internationally renowned singer.

Iglesias has strongly rejected the accusations, previously describing them as ‘absolutely false’ and saying he had never ‘abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman’. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias says abuse allegations are ‘absolutely false’ and ‘deeply sadden’ him.

Allegations of sexual assault and degrading working conditions

According to Women’s Link, the new legal action alleges that Iglesias used his position of power, combined with the women’s vulnerability, to recruit them, transport them and accommodate them at his properties within what the complaint describes as an atmosphere of persistent intimidation.

The filing refers to ‘situations of continuous sexual harassment and assault’ as well as ‘forced and degrading working conditions’.

Women’s Link argues that the alleged conduct could amount to a range of criminal offences, including human trafficking for the purpose of forced labour and servitude, offences against sexual freedom, bodily harm, degrading treatment and breaches of workers’ rights through the imposition of abusive employment conditions.

The allegations have not been proven in court, and it will now be for Spain’s National Court to decide whether the latest complaint provides grounds for opening a judicial investigation.

Fresh challenge over Spanish jurisdiction

The filing represents the women’s second attempt to pursue the allegations through the Spanish justice system.

In January, prosecutors at the National Court took statements from Rebeca and Laura after an initial complaint raised possible offences including human trafficking, sexual assault, degrading treatment, physical mistreatment and breaches of employment obligations.

However, prosecutors ultimately closed those proceedings without pursuing an investigation, concluding that Spanish courts lacked jurisdiction. ALSO READ: Spanish prosecutors drop sex abuse case against Julio Iglesias, citing lack of jurisdiction.

A central factor in that decision was that the alleged events had occurred entirely outside Spain. Prosecutors maintained that the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, where the conduct was alleged to have taken place, were themselves fully competent to investigate the claims.

They also made clear that the decision in Spain did not prevent the women from attempting to bring proceedings in other jurisdictions.

Women’s Link is now challenging that interpretation.

The organisation argues that Spanish law allows offences committed abroad to be investigated and prosecuted in Spain where sufficient connections with the country exist.

‘If a Spanish person commits an offence outside Spain, Spain can try it, as long as that same act is also considered an offence in the country where it happened,’ Women’s Link said in explaining the legal basis for the latest action.

The argument will now have to persuade the court despite the fact that the legislation being cited was already in force when prosecutors rejected the first attempt on jurisdictional grounds.

Women’s Link calls for investigation

Jovana Ríos Cisnero, executive director of Women’s Link, said it was ‘fundamental’ that Rebeca and Laura should now be able to seek justice in conditions that protect their safety and dignity.

‘All people have the right for justice systems to investigate the facts when there are indications of alleged human rights violations. The Spanish state has an obligation to guarantee equal access to justice, regardless of who the accused person is,’ she said.

The organisation’s position is that the status or prominence of the person facing allegations should have no bearing on the women’s ability to have their claims examined by the courts.

Iglesias denies allegations

Iglesias sought to have the original proceedings dismissed and has categorically denied the accusations against him. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias argues Spanish courts lack jurisdiction over alleged abuse case.

The Grammy-winning singer, whose career has spanned several decades and who has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, issued a public response on social media after the allegations emerged, describing them as false.

He has also taken separate legal action over public comments made about the case.

Iglesias filed a €50,000 claim against Spain’s second deputy prime minister and Labour Minister, Yolanda Díaz, alleging infringement of his right to honour after accusing her of treating allegations contained in the original complaint as established facts. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias seeks retraction and damages from Yolanda Díaz over ‘sexual abuser’ remarks.

The latest filing means the immediate decision now rests with the National Court: whether to accept the women’s argument that sufficient legal links to Spain exist for the allegations to be investigated there, or whether the jurisdictional obstacle that brought the first proceedings to an end remains decisive.