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Zapatero jewelry and Bolivia investigations expand

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-30 07:51 UTC → 2026-10-01 17:52 UTC · added removed

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 defense argued Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has requested Zapatero’s reappearance before the firm lacked impartiality because its director general, Juan Yanes López, had suggested 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 television that the collection could be worth “a couple behalf of million” euros. The judge ruled the request was “premature,” noting that a recusal requires specific legal grounds against individual experts rather than the institution itself. He emphasized that the specific professionals performing Peruvian conglomerate Grupo Gloria regarding judicial issues faced by its Bolivian cement subsidiary, Soboce. While Zapatero’s defense maintains the technical report have not yet been named and that procedural guarantees exist to neutralize potential bias. payments were for legitimate professional activities, investigators are examining if they served as compensation for intermediary work with Bolivian authorities. Separately, legal scrutiny has expanded to Bolivia, where 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. Senator José Manuel Ormaechea stated that “nothing should be ruled out” during the inquiry.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-01 17:52 UTC Zapatero jewelry and Bolivia investigations expand
  2. 2026-09-30 07:51 UTC Zapatero jewelry and Bolivia investigations expand
  3. 2026-09-29 12:11 UTC Zapatero jewelry and Bolivia investigations expand
  4. 2026-09-28 00:12 UTC Zapatero jewelry and Bolivia investigations expand
  5. 2026-09-26 05:53 UTC Zapatero jewelry investigation
  6. 2026-09-26 02:13 UTC Zapatero jewelry investigation
  7. 2026-09-25 14:28 UTC Zapatero jewelry investigation
  8. 2026-09-25 10:29 UTC Zapatero jewelry investigation

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