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6 clusters · 75 sources · 7 days · First seen · Last updated

Zapatero jewelry and Bolivia investigations expand

Overview

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero remains under investigation in the ‘Plus Ultra’ case regarding high-value jewelry found in his office safe. The investigation is examining potential tax fraud, smuggling, and alleged influence peddling related to a 53 million euro government rescue provided to the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic.

Zapatero previously informed Judge José Luis Calama of the Audiencia Nacional that several items—including necklaces, bracelets, and rings featuring rubies, emeralds, and sapphires—were personal gifts from the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud during a 2007 official visit. While a judicial appraisal valued the pieces at approximately 1.3 million euros, Zapatero’s defense has disputed this figure. In a recent development, Judge Calama rejected a recusal request filed by Zapatero’s defense aimed at blocking Joyería Yanes from conducting a second appraisal.

Legal scrutiny has further expanded to include payments from the Peruvian company Focus Social Research. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has requested Zapatero’s reappearance before the Audiencia Nacional to investigate €200,000 transferred in three installments between July 2024 and June 2025. According to UDEF police reports, these funds are allegedly linked to mediation efforts conducted on behalf of the Peruvian conglomerate Grupo Gloria regarding judicial issues faced by its Bolivian cement subsidiary, Soboce. While Zapatero’s defense maintains the payments were for legitimate professional activities, investigators are examining if they served as compensation for intermediary work with Bolivian authorities.

Separately, a group of senators in Bolivia has established an investigative commission titled ‘Caso Zapatero’ to examine his business dealings and economic activities within the country.

Entities

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero · Audiencia Nacional · José Luis Calama · Plus Ultra · Joyería Yanes

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Zapatero faces new judicial scrutiny over payments from Peruvian firm

    Former Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero may have to testify again before the Audiencia Nacional regarding €200,000 in payments from a Peruvian firm linked to business interests in Bolivia.

  2. 2 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Judge rejects Zapatero's request to block jewelry appraisal

    A Spanish judge rejected former PM Zapatero's attempt to block Joyería Yanes from appraising seized jewelry, citing a lack of specific legal grounds for bias.

  3. 5 days ago

    [CRIME] 18 sources
    Zapatero jewelry case: Judge rejects recusal of Joyería Yanes

    A Spanish judge rejected former President Zapatero's attempt to disqualify Joyería Yanes from appraising seized jewelry in the Plus Ultra case, citing a lack of legal grounds for impartiality concerns.

  4. 7 days ago

    [CRIME] 10 sources
    José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero under investigation over jewelry found in office

    Former Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero faces investigation for tax and smuggling crimes after 1.3 million euros worth of jewelry were found in his office, which he claims were gifts from the Saudi King.

  5. 9 days ago

    [POLITICS] 34 sources
    Spanish opposition targets Sánchez government over housing and Ceuta

    Spanish opposition leaders criticize the Sánchez government over the housing crisis, the Ceuta migration incident, and ongoing political controversies involving Zapatero and Begoña Gómez.

  6. 9 days ago

    [POLITICS] 51 sources
    Zapatero claims office jewelry was a personal gift from Saudi King

    Former Spanish PM Zapatero claims jewelry found in his office was a personal 2007 gift from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, amid a judicial probe into potential tax fraud and smuggling.

Sources

13tv.es · 20minutos.com.mx · 20minutos.es · abc.es · apuntmedia.es · ariadna.elmundo.es · atlantico.net · bilbaohiria.com · caminodesantiago.lavozdegalicia.com · capital.es · castellondiario.com · castroconfidencial.es · ccaa.elpais.com · centre-cerlatez.ch · cronicadecantabria.com · cronicaeconomica.com · dialogosdosul.operamundi.uol.com.br · diariodealmeria.es · diariodecadiz.es · diariodecastillayleon.es · diariodejerez.es · diariodeleon.es · diariodenavarra.es · diariodesevilla.es · diariofinanciero.com · elburgado.com · elcierredigital.com · elcorreodeburgos.com · elcorreoweb.es · eldiadecordoba.es · eldiario.es · eldiariodehuesca.com · elnacional.cat · elnoticierodigital.com · elplural.com · ep01.epimg.net · es.euronews.com · esdiario.com · europasur.es · granadahoy.com · huelvainformacion.es · infobierzo.com · labandera.es · lacronicabadajoz.com · lacronicadebadajoz.elperiodicoextremadura.com · lacronicadesalamanca.com · lamanyana.es · lancelotdigital.com

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history