Julio Iglesias faces new abuse complaint in Spain

Two former employees of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias have filed another complaint against him in Spain for alleged sexual abuse and forced labour, the advocacy group representing them said Friday.

Women's Link Worldwide said the women, identified as Rebeca and Laura, filed the new complaint on Thursday. The group said the alleged acts included sexual harassment and assault, as well as forced and degrading work conditions.

The women, a domestic worker and a physiotherapist, allege they suffered sexual and other forms of abuse while working at Iglesias's properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in 2021.

Iglesias, 82, called the accusations “absolutely false” and said he had never “abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman”.

Spanish prosecutors in January shelved a first complaint over the same allegations, saying Spanish courts had no jurisdiction over events that allegedly happened in the Caribbean countries, which prosecutors said were fully competent to investigate.

Women's Link Worldwide said Spanish courts were competent because Spanish law allows investigation and prosecution of offences committed outside the country when relevant links with Spain exist.

“If a Spanish person commits an offence outside Spain, Spain can try it, as long as that same act is also considered an offence in the country where it happened,” Women's Link said.

Women's Link executive director Jovana Rios Cisnero said Spain was obliged to guarantee equal access to justice, irrespective of who the accused person is.

It was unclear what chance the latest complaint has of succeeding, given that the cited law existed when the allegations were first presented. Prosecutors said in January that shelving the case did not prevent the women from filing their complaint in other jurisdictions.