Dubious gifts of money bring Juan Carlos an investigation, which the public prosecutor eventually stops. Now the tax authorities are investigating the suspicion that the former Spanish king is said to have cheated on travel expenses for his hunting trips.
Spain’s tax authorities have launched an investigation into former King Juan Carlos’ spending on previous hunting trips. As the newspaper “El Mundo” reported, the ex-monarch should disclose the origin of the money with which the flights and other expenses during his hunting trips in the years 2014 to 2018 were denied. By that time, Juan Carlos had already abdicated and no longer enjoyed immunity as a monarch.
The tax authority is investigating the suspicion that the excursions were a gift. However, taxpayers in Spain have to report all gifts to the authorities within a certain period. According to “El Mundo”, the sums that may be taken over do not exceed the threshold of 120,000 euros per year, above which concealing monetary benefits constitutes a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.
In March, the public prosecutor’s office dropped three investigations against Juan Carlos, among other things because of dubious gifts of money from the years 2008 to 2012. She also cited his immunity as head of state at the time as a reason. The 84-year-old ex-monarch, who went into exile in Abu Dhabi in August 2020 on suspicion of embezzlement, returned to his homeland for the first time in May for a short visit to take part in a sailing regatta.
He also spent half a day with his son, King Felipe VI, and other family members at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. Since his accession to the throne in 2014, Felipe has distanced himself from his father in order to improve the reputation of the Spanish monarchy. According to Spanish newspaper reports, the media hype surrounding his father’s return is said to have greatly disturbed him.
Originally Juan Carlos wanted to return to Spain for another regatta this weekend. According to the sailing club, however, he canceled his visit at short notice for “personal reasons”. According to information from the newspaper “El País”, his son is said to have asked him to do so.
