Discovery of €1.2m jewellery prompts fresh probe into former Spanish PM

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is facing a caller probe pursuing the find of luxury watches and jewellery successful his safe.

Zapatero, a Socialist who governed from 2004 to 2011 and who remains influential successful the ruling party, had already been facing a probe into alleged power peddling relating to his relation successful the 2021 authorities bailout of Spanish hose Plus Ultra.

That enquiry prompted authorities to raid his bureau past month, wherever Spanish media reported they discovered necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings valued astatine €1.2m (£1.02m).

Zapatero's spokesman, Luis Arroyo, said "he volition supply explanations earlier the judge" successful narration to the jewels.

The jewellery was made with gold, sapphires and emeralds originating from Zambia oregon Thailand, according to Spanish media.

Investigators accidental Zapatero is suspected of being incapable to amusement impervious of outgo of customs duties connected the jewellery. He is present nether probe for taxation fraud and smuggling.

Associates of the erstwhile premier curate said astatine the clip that the items were linked to household inheritance, Agence France-Presse reported.

He has been summoned to attest successful tribunal aboriginal this month.

While different Spanish premier ministers person been called to attest successful corruption cases, this is the archetypal clip successful the country's caller past that a erstwhile premier has been placed nether ceremonial investigation.

The enquiry is the latest ungraded to deed the Socialist Party of existent Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, of whom Zapatero is simply a adjacent ally.

In the Plus Ultra case, Zapatero is accused of utilizing his power to unafraid a €53m authorities bailout of the hose successful 2021 and receiving a committee successful return. He has consistently denied wrongdoing oregon having ever received payments from Plus Ultra.

The bailout was approved nether a authorities money established to enactment strategical companies deed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, constabulary raided the Madrid office of the Socialist Party and seized a fig of documents arsenic portion of an probe into alleged corruption.

Searches were besides carried retired astatine the homes of elder enactment figures and a starring businessman.

A fig of figures, including Sánchez's woman and brother, besides look charges. All contradict wrongdoing.