Spanish prosecutors drop abuse case against Julio Iglesias

MADRID — Prosecutors at Spain’s High Court have shelved a preliminary investigation into singer Julio Iglesias, saying on Friday that the court lacked jurisdiction as the alleged crimes were abroad and the accusers did not reside in the country.

Rights group Women’s Link Worldwide had filed the complaint on Jan. 5 on behalf of two women said to have worked in Mr. Iglesias’ Caribbean residences over a 10-month period in 2021, based on an investigation by US broadcaster Univision and Spanish outlet elDiario.es.

The accusations included human trafficking for forced labor and servitude, sexual assault and violations of workers’ rights. Mr. Iglesias described them as “completely false” in various social media posts.

Attempts by Reuters to contact representatives of Mr. Iglesias, 82, have gone unanswered. His record label Sony has declined to comment on the case.

The prosecutor’s office said in a filing seen by Reuters that the High Court was unable to try Mr. Iglesias as the alleged crimes were in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, adding that prosecution could still be sought in those two countries.

In addition, the alleged victims were not Spanish and did not reside in Spain, it said, citing Supreme Court jurisprudence that limited the legal principle of universal jurisdiction. — Reuters