Judge José Luis Calama Opens Probe Into Zapatero Over Tax Fraud, Smuggling Jewellery

Spain’s National Court judge José Luis Calama opened a separate investigation within the 'caso Plus Ultra' into former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged tax fraud and smuggling tied to jewellery found in a search of his office.

“- Published Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is facing a new investigation following the discovery of luxury watches and jewellery in his safe”

BBC

Calama said the jewellery’s origin “en estos momentos no está justificado” and that its preliminary appraisal valued it at 1,3 million euros, while ordering that Zapatero be declared and questioned in the same window as the main case.

BBC

The judge linked the suspicion to the lack of fiscal traceability, stating that the possession of luxury goods of high value together with the absence of traceability constitutes “un indicio objetivo y racional de la posible existencia de una defraudación tributaria relevante”.

The investigation follows a police entry by the Unidad de Delincuencia Económica y Fiscal (UDEF) into Zapatero’s office at number 35 of the madrileña calle de Ferraz after judicial authorization, with the search conducted on 18 de mayo and the jewellery seized from a safe.

In the record of the search, Zapatero’s secretary attributed the origin of the jewellery to the inheritance of Sonsoles Espinosa and to “regalos de viajes”.

The separate probe was opened after Calama received an appraisal valuing the seized items at 1,3 million euros, and the court set Zapatero’s statements for 17 and 18 de junio.

The Straits Times reported that Calama said the jewellery seized during the May 19 search “currently lack documented proof of origin,” and that the possession of high-value assets without clear fiscal traceability could indicate tax evasion or smuggling.

Cadena SER

Zapatero’s spokesperson Luis Arroyo said on June 12 that Zapatero would address the jewellery matter before the judge, and the BBC reported that Zapatero’s spokesman said “he will provide explanations before the judge”.

The BBC also described the jewellery as luxury watches and jewellery in Zapatero’s safe, made with gold, sapphires and emeralds originating from Zambia or Thailand, and said investigators suspect Zapatero cannot show proof of payment of customs duties.

In the wider Plus Ultra case, the BBC said Zapatero was accused of using his influence to secure a €53m government bailout of Plus Ultra in 2021, and it noted that he has consistently denied wrongdoing or having received payments from Plus Ultra.

Calama’s order frames the jewellery matter as potentially constituting a crime against the Treasury and a contraband offense, pointing to the absence of customs documents, import invoices, or proof of customs clearance.

“El juez de la Audiencia Nacional José Luis Calama ha abierto una nueva investigación dentro del 'caso Plus Ultra' contra el expresidente del Gobierno José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero por presuntos delitos fiscales y de contrabando en relación con las joyas halladas en el registro de su despacho, cuyo valor ha sido tasado de forma preliminar por 1,3 millones de euros, al considerar que el origen de las mismas "no está justificado"”

Diario de Noticias de Álava

In Diario de Noticias de Álava, Calama said the acquisition of jewellery of the indicated value generates tax obligations including IVA, Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales, Impuesto sobre Sucesiones y Donaciones, and IRPF, and that the lack of declaration or payment could allow the Agencia Tributaria to impute a “ganancia patrimonial no justificada” to Zapatero.

The judge also argued that the absence of documentation “impide descartar que las joyas hubieran sido introducidas en España al margen de los procedimientos” of customs control, and that this could exceed the 150.000 euros threshold for criminal typicity.

El Mundo reported that Calama opened the separate piece so Zapatero could exercise his right of defense, and it said the declaration for these facts was set for the same days as the main case, 17 and 18 de junio.

Across the investigation, the BBC described the Plus Ultra probe as part of a broader set of allegations involving influence peddling and money laundering, with the jewellery case adding new charges to the existing scrutiny around the €53m bailout and the alleged commission.