A judge has asked the Spanish Tax Agency to join the investigation into jewels worth €1.3 million found in José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's office. The case involves possible tax fraud and smuggling. Zapatero's legal team challenges the process.
The investigation into nearly 80 jewels valued at €1.3 million, discovered in the Madrid office of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has taken a new turn. Judge José Luis Calama of the Audiencia Nacional has formally invited the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) to participate in the case as a potentially affected party. This move signals the court's focus on possible crimes against the public treasury and smuggling, as the origin of the jewels remains unexplained.
According to the court order accessed by EL PAÍS, the judge considers the Tax Agency directly linked to the case due to the potential loss of state revenue. Under Spanish law, tax fraud exceeding €120,000 can lead to prison sentences of one to five years, while smuggling offenses involving goods worth over €150,000 carry similar penalties. The judge argues that the nature of the alleged offenses justifies the Tax Agency's right to pursue both criminal and civil actions.
Zapatero was questioned by Judge Calama last week but declined to clarify the provenance of the jewels, which were found by the National Police in a safe during a search at his office on Calle de Ferraz. He indicated he would address the matter in more detail within a week or ten days, pending a new statement. His lawyer had unsuccessfully requested a postponement, citing insufficient time to prepare after the historic Ansorena jewelry house appraised the collection at €1.3 million just days earlier. The judge rejected the delay, stating the defense had adequate time to respond.
Following the appraisal, Judge Calama charged Zapatero with tax fraud and smuggling, given the lack of documentation for the jewels' origin. This case is being handled separately from the main investigation, which centers on alleged influence peddling. In that broader probe, Zapatero is suspected of acting as an intermediary in the government's 2021 bailout of Plus Ultra airline, which received €53 million. The legal battle has intensified, with Zapatero's lawyer, Víctor Manuel Moreno Catena, filing a motion this Thursday to annul the entire investigation and exclude all evidence gathered by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, arguing that several of the former prime minister's rights have been violated and that some evidence was improperly obtained.
Judge Calama is expected to rule on the defense's request for annulment in the coming days or weeks, though no specific deadline has been set. Any decision he makes can be appealed. The case has drawn attention amid ongoing scrutiny of political figures in Spain, echoing recent controversies involving the PSOE and government officials. For context, a major corruption verdict against PSOE members recently sparked debate in Congress and criticism from public figures, as detailed in this report on political tensions following a PSOE corruption sentence.
Spain's legal framework treats crimes against the public treasury and smuggling as serious offenses, especially when large sums are involved. The Audiencia Nacional often handles high-profile cases involving former officials and complex financial matters. The outcome of this investigation could have implications for how similar cases are managed in the future, particularly regarding the involvement of state agencies like the Tax Agency in judicial proceedings.
