Julio Iglesias abuse complaint returns to Spanish court after prosecutors reverse stance

The complaint concerns two former employees who allege that they suffered abuse while working at the singer’s homes in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in 2021. Iglesias, now 83, denies the accusations.

On Thursday, National Court judge Antonio Piña gave the singer and the complainants five days to submit arguments on whether the court has jurisdiction, according to elDiario.es. The move follows a prosecution report supporting the Spanish court’s authority to examine the allegations. A decision on opening an investigation remains pending. 

A new complaint after January’s dismissal

The proceedings follow a second complaint, lodged directly with Madrid’s Audiencia Nacional in September, after an earlier complaint submitted to prosecutors was shelved in January. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias faces fresh legal action in Spain over sexual abuse and forced labour allegations.

At that stage, prosecutors concluded that the legal conditions for investigating in Spain had not been met because the alleged offences took place abroad. They said the authorities in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas were ‘fully competent’ to investigate. ALSO READ: Spanish prosecutors drop sex abuse case against Julio Iglesias, citing lack of jurisdiction.

Their new position was set out in a submission sent to Piña on Wednesday. The change was first reported by elDiario.es and subsequently confirmed by prosecution sources to the EFE news agency. Those sources did not explain the reasons for the reversal. 

The jurisdiction question concerns whether the Spanish justice system can hear the complaint; the prosecutors’ submission does not establish that the alleged offences occurred.

The Audiencia Nacional handles certain complex criminal proceedings, including cases involving alleged offences committed by Spaniards overseas.

Women’s Link Worldwide, which represents the complainants, has argued that Spanish courts can take the case under legislation that ‘makes it possible to investigate and prosecute offences committed outside the country when relevant links with Spain exist’.

Allegations concern employment at Caribbean properties

The women, a former domestic worker and a physiotherapist, allege sexual abuse and forced labour during their employment in 2021, when Iglesias was 77.

The original complaint alleged human trafficking for forced labour and servitude, sexual assault, bodily injury and violations of workers’ rights.

One of the women also said that both complainants were required to undergo medical examinations, including gynaecological checks, pregnancy tests and screening for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Their accounts emerged through a joint journalistic investigation by Spanish news outlet elDiario.es and Univision Noticias. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias faces sexual assault allegations from former live-in staff at Caribbean homes.

Iglesias has rejected the allegations, saying he has never ‘abused, coerced or disrespected any woman’. His lawyers sought dismissal of the case after the accusations became public. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias says abuse allegations are ‘absolutely false’ and ‘deeply sadden’ him.

The Grammy-winning Spanish singer has sold more than 300 million records over a career spanning decades and is the father of fellow singer Enrique Iglesias. ALSO READ: Julio Iglesias seeks retraction and damages from Yolanda Díaz over ‘sexual abuser’ remarks.