Spanish prosecutor's office opens way for possible prosecution of Julio Iglesias, accused of sexual assault

The Spanish public prosecutor's office has opened the way to possible legal proceedings against the singer Julio Iglesias, targeted by accusations of sexual assault made by two former employees, which he categorically contests, AFP learned Thursday from judicial sources.

Concretely, the prosecution considered that the National Court, the court specializing in Spain in the most sensitive cases, was “competent” to open an investigation, according to these sources. It is now up to a judge of this court, whose headquarters is based in Madrid, to decide whether or not to initiate investigations against Julio Iglesias.

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A first complaint filed in January against the Spanish star of the 1970s and 1980s, who sold more than 300 million records, was dismissed by the Spanish courts. The latter then considered that it was not competent to judge these facts which allegedly took place in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

“Absolutely false” accusations

The prosecution finally revised its position, after the filing of a second complaint in September, notably for “sexual harassment and sexual assault” and “forced and degrading labor”, without explaining the reason. Two women, a domestic worker and a physiotherapist, allege they suffered sexual assault and mistreatment while working at Iglesias properties in these two countries in 2021.

Julio Iglesias, 83, denounces “absolutely false” accusations, claiming to have never “attacked, coerced or disrespected any woman whatsoever”. At the time of the announcement of the filing of the second complaint, the NGO Women's Link Worldwide, which represents the two complainants, said it believed that the Spanish courts had jurisdiction under a law which “allows the investigation and prosecution of offenses committed abroad when there are relevant links with Spain”.

Interpreter of I haven't changed, or Manuela, Julio Iglesias saw his career take off in the 1970s to become the Spanish-speaking artist who sold the most records in the world. Icon of a generation of Spaniards emerging from the Franco dictatorship, who remained a respected figure, Julio Iglesias, born in 1943, had built his success on an image of a “Latin lover”.