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Police found jewelry worth over 1.3 million euros in his office safe, while he is also being investigated for illegal influence in connection with the financial rescue of the airline Plus Ultra...
Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is being investigated for possible tax fraud and smuggling after police discovered jewelry worth over 1.3 million euros during a search of his office safe.
Zapatero, who led two socialist governments from 2004 to 2011, is already under investigation for influence peddling and other alleged offences related to the financial rescue of Spanish airline Plus Ultra during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to investigators, he is suspected of running a "hierarchical influence structure" with the aim of securing economic benefits through mediation and exercising influence over public institutions in favor of third parties, mainly the company Plus Ultra.
On Friday, the investigating judge of Spain's National Court (Audiencia Nacional), Jose Luis Calama, announced the opening of a new investigation after experts estimated that the seized jewelry, including pendants, bracelets, rings and a watch, have a value of 1,323,915 euros.
In his decision, Judge Calama argued that the lack of tax documentation that would prove the origin and declaration of these luxury items constitutes an objective indicator of the possible existence of tax fraud.
“The possession of high-value luxury goods, coupled with the lack of tax traceability for their purchase, constitutes an objective and rational indicator of the possible existence of significant tax fraud,” the judge's reasoning states.
A spokesman for Zapatero said some of the jewelry was inherited from the former prime minister and his wife, while others were purchased during trips abroad. He apologized for earlier stating that its value was only between 30,000 and 50,000 euros, acknowledging that this estimate was incorrect.
The spokesman added that he and Zapatero will present the relevant explanations to the court regarding the origin of the items.
Zapatero, who is expected to appear before a judge next week, has denied any wrongdoing. After the Plus Ultra investigation was launched, he released a video in which he declared that all his public and private activities had been carried out “with full respect for the law” and that he had not taken any action related to the airline’s financial rescue.
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