British court recognizes immunity to former King of Spain, Juan Carlos
The appeal of the former King of Spain Juan Carlos, who has resided in the United Arab Emirates since August 2020, leaving Spain due to allegations of corruption and news about his private life, regarding the only ongoing investigation against him, has been admitted.
In the framework of the investigation opened against Juan Carlos, accused of harassment in his private life and illegal stalking by members of the Spanish secret service by his ex-girlfriend, Corinna Larsen, a German businesswoman, the London Court announced in March that he could be prosecuted. because he had no legal immunity in England.
Assessing the appeal filed by Juan Carlos on November 8 through his lawyers, the British Court of Appeals announced that it recognized the former king’s immunity from April 2012, when the charges began, until June 18, 2014, when left the throne.
By affirming that the actions of Juan Carlos until June 18, 2014, when he took the throne, did not fall within the private sphere, the Court of Appeals left open the end of the trial on the charges from that date.
It was commented in the Spanish press that the trial of Juan Carlos became more difficult after the decision of the British Court of Appeal.
Former King Juan Carlos, 84, who was president of Spain for 39 years (1975-2014) and known for paving the way for the transition to democracy after the dictator Franco, abdicated the throne in favor of his son Felipe el June 18, 2014 and then June 2, 2019. He announced that he was ending all his official responsibilities within the Royal Family.
Juan Carlos, whose annual salary from the State budget was cut in June 2020 following allegations of corruption, announced that he had decided to leave the country on August 3, 2020, following the investigations opened against him in Spain, and then left. headed to the United Arab Emirates. Emirates on the same date.
Juan Carlos went to Spain about 2 years later to participate in a sailing competition in May, and returned to Abu Dhabi after only 5 days in his country.
Juan Carlos, 84, who was acquitted of all corruption charges in Spain for lack of evidence in the prosecutor’s decision, paid approximately 5.1 million euros of two different tax debts to the Ministry of Finance. (AA)