Zapatero faces tax and smuggling charges following discovery of jewellery worth 1.3 million euros
The National Court judge José Luis Calama has charged the former Government president with various tax offences and smuggling after discovering a collection of luxury items in his office.
Zapatero faces tax and smuggling charges following discovery of jewellery worth 1.3 million euros
Judge José Luis Calama of the National Court has attributed various tax offences and even smuggling to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, according to El Mundo. The investigation began after a collection of jewellery valued at 1.3 million euros was found in the safe of the former head of government's law office.
The judge, who had already linked Zapatero to the leadership of a money-laundering and influence-trafficking network in an offshoot of the Plus Ultra case, has decided to open a separate proceeding. The ruling considers that the possession of luxury items of substantial value, combined with the absence of any fiscal record of their origin, points to a possible large-scale tax evasion.
According to the judge, the acquisition of jewellery of such magnitude entails tax obligations in VAT, Property Transfer Tax, Inheritance and Gift Tax, and Personal Income Tax, depending on the type of transaction. The ruling also contemplates the possibility that the items could have entered Spanish territory without customs supervision, which would constitute a smuggling offence if the damage exceeds 150,000 euros.
Tax inspector Francisco de la Torre has clarified that, once judicial proceedings are underway, Article 305 of the Criminal Code no longer permits the defendant to bring himself up to date with the Tax Authority. This regulation only allows voluntary regularisation before the Public Prosecution Service or the investigating judge formally learns of the commencement of the investigation.
De la Torre has indicated that, should he not have already submitted amended tax returns, paying now would only serve as a mitigating factor, but would not erase criminal liability. To assess the seriousness, the age of the concealed income and its origin will be determining factors.
In the case of Personal Income Tax, an unjustified enrichment exceeding 120,000 euros—taxed at 46%—would constitute an offence against the Treasury. The possible expiration of the statute of limitations and the number of fiscal years in which income was omitted remain to be determined.
Source: El Mundo