Plus Ultra case: judge invites Treasury to join proceedings over Zapatero jewels valued at 1.3 million euros
Judge Calama considers the Tax Authority a "potential injured party" in the jewels found in the former president's office. The Ansorena jewellery firm valued the pieces at 1.3 million euros.
Treasury invited to join case over jewels seized from Zapatero's office
The National Court judge José Luis Calama, who is responsible for investigating the Plus Ultra case, has offered the Tax Authority the opportunity to join the separate proceedings examining the jewels found in the office of former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. According to ABC, Calama considers it a "potential injured party" in the case.
The magistrate set this out in an order, to which Europa Press had access, stating that the facts being investigated may constitute "a crime against the public treasury and a crime of smuggling", the same criminal offences for which Zapatero is already being investigated in that separate proceeding.
Patrimonial damage "directly connected" with state revenue
Calama argues that the nature of the facts "reveals patrimonial damage directly connected with income belonging to the state, whose management falls under the responsibility of" the Tax Authority. Therefore, he designates the Treasury as a "potential injured party" and considers it legitimised "to exercise the criminal and civil actions that may be appropriate".
The Ansorena jewellery firm, to whom the judge commissioned an expert valuation, valued the pieces seized by the National Police in a safe deposit box in the former president's office at 1.3 million euros.
Chain of custody and analysis of the pieces
Calama ordered an analysis of the jewels to "determine their nature, authenticity and replacement economic value", as well as the manufacturer, the hallmark or mark of the jeweller and the approximate date of manufacture, without prejudice to a subsequent expert valuation that would cover "other analytical data of interest".
The work was commissioned to the jewellery firm "following the taking of an oath or promise" and was documented by the Unit for Economic and Fiscal Crime (UDEF) of the National Police, "with a statement of all requirements necessary for compliance with the chain of custody".
The secretary attributes the jewels to inheritance and travel gifts
According to the police report drawn up during the entry and search of Zapatero's office, the former president's secretary, who was present during the proceedings, attributed the origin of the jewels to the family inheritance of Sonsoles Espinosa, the wife of the former socialist leader, and to "gifts from trips".
The order also rejects the application to join the proceedings by the company Softgestor, on the grounds that, according to Calama, there is "no material connection between its procedural position and the facts examined, nor any risk of affecting its rights of defence".
Source: ABC