Spanish prosecutors drop sexual assault case against Julio Iglesias
Spanish state prosecutors announced Friday that they have shelved an initial investigation into sexual assault allegations involving singer Julio Iglesias, concluding that Spain’s National Court does not have jurisdiction over the claims. The inquiry had examined accusations that the 82-year-old, Grammy-winning global star sexually assaulted two former employees at his private residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. After reviewing the circumstances, prosecutors determined that the alleged conduct occurred outside Spanish territory and did not meet the legal thresholds required for the National Court to proceed, effectively closing the matter in Spain without ruling on the substance of the allegations.
The investigation had been opened earlier this month following a complaint submitted to the Spanish court system by the two women, who alleged a range of serious offenses. Through their representatives, the women accused Iglesias of sexual harassment and other crimes related to sexual freedom, as well as human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor and servitude. They claimed that while employed at his residences, they were subjected to strict controls, including having their cellphones regularly checked, being prevented from leaving the property, and being required to work up to 16 hours a day without formal contracts or days off. Iglesias publicly denied the accusations, stating that he never abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman and describing the claims as completely false and deeply distressing. At the time the complaint was filed in Spain, the women’s representatives said they had not contacted authorities in the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic and were unaware of whether any investigations had been initiated in those countries.
Iglesias is one of the most successful recording artists in music history, having launched his career with his 1969 debut album Yo Canto and gone on to sell more than 300 million records in over a dozen languages. Rising to international fame in the 1970s and 1980s, he became especially popular in the United States and worldwide through a string of hits and high-profile collaborations with artists such as Willie Nelson and Diana Ross. His accolades include a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance for Un Hombre Solo and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also the father of pop star Enrique Iglesias.
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