A judge leading the Plus Ultra corruption probe in Spain has launched a separate investigation into the discovery of €1.3million worth of jewellery.
The series of luxury watches, necklaces and more were allegedly found in a safe located in the office of former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Judge Jose Luis Calama wants investigators to examine the provenance of the items, which were found during a police operation on May 19.
According to court documents, a preliminary valuation carried out by renowned Madrid jeweller Ansorena, with assistance from the Spanish Gemmological Institute, estimated the collection to be worth approximately €1.32 million.
The judge said the origin of the jewellery is currently ‘unjustified’ and has formally placed Zapatero under investigation for alleged tax offences and smuggling-related crimes, reports Cadena Ser.
He has been summoned to testify on June 17 and 18, the same dates on which he was already due to appear in connection with the wider Plus Ultra investigation.
In his ruling, Calama argues that possession of luxury goods of such significant value, combined with an apparent lack of documented fiscal traceability regarding their acquisition, constitutes an objective indication of possible tax fraud.
The judge noted that the purchase, inheritance, donation or transfer of jewellery of this value would ordinarily generate tax obligations, including VAT, property transfer tax, inheritance and gift tax or personal income tax, depending on the circumstances.
According to the ruling, if the acquisition of the jewellery cannot be properly justified, Spain’s tax agency could potentially classify the assets as an undeclared capital gain, which could attract taxation at rates approaching 46%.
Calama further argues that the apparent absence of any declared tax payments linked to the items raises the possibility that the amount allegedly defrauded exceeds Spain’s criminal threshold of €120,000.
The judge is also examining whether the case could amount to a smuggling offence, arguing that luxury goods worth more than €1.3million found without evidence of customs duties, import taxes or other associated payments may indicate they entered the EU without complying with legal requirements.
The investigation forms part of the broader Plus Ultra case, which is already examining allegations including influence peddling, money laundering, document falsification and involvement in a criminal organisation.
However, the judge concluded that the circumstances surrounding the jewellery were sufficiently distinct to warrant a separate investigation, allowing authorities to focus specifically on establishing the origin of the items and determining whether any criminal offences may have been committed.
The ruling comes after a spokesperson for Zapatero reportedly apologised for having ’caused confusion’ regarding the value of the jewellery, after earlier claims suggested the collection was worth between €30,000 and €50,000.
Further expert analysis is expected as investigators continue examining the items and their provenance.
