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BARCELONA, Spain\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/span>Spanish prosecutors are studying allegations that Grammy-winning singer Julio Iglesias sexually assaulted two former employees at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.<\/p>\n The Spanish prosecutor\u2019s office told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the allegations were related to media reports from earlier this week that alleged Iglesias had sexually and physically assaulted two women who worked in his Caribbean residences between January and October 2021.<\/p>\n Iglesias has yet to speak publicly regarding the allegations. Russell L. King, a Miami-based entertainment lawyer who lists Iglesias as a client on his website, didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment by the AP.<\/p>\n The Spanish prosecutor\u2019s office that handles cases for Spain\u2019s National Court said that it had received formal allegations against Iglesias by an unnamed party on Jan. 5. Iglesias could potentially be taken in front of the Madrid-based court, which can try alleged crimes by Spanish citizens while they are abroad, according to the court\u2019s press office.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Link Worldwide, a nongovernmental organization, said in a statement that it was representing the two women who had presented the complaint to the Spanish court. The group said that the women were accusing Iglesias of \u201ccrimes against sexual freedom and indemnity such as sexual harassment\u201d and of \u201chuman trafficking for the purpose of forced labor and servitude.\u201d<\/p>\n The organization said the women in their testimony also accused Iglesias of regularly checking their cellphones, of prohibiting them from leaving the house where they worked and demanding that they work up to 16 hours a day, with no contract or days off.<\/p>\n The organization said it did not reach out to authorities in the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic, and that it didn\u2019t know whether authorities in those Caribbean nations had initiated an investigation.<\/p>\n Gema Fern\u00e1ndez, senior attorney at Women\u2019s Link Worldwide, said in an online news conference Wednesday that \u201cSpanish legislation regarding sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking could be an interesting option\u201d for the two women making the allegations against Iglesias.<\/p>\n \u201cListening to what [the two women] are seeking and their definitions of justice, it seems to us that filing a complaint with the Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office of the National Court of Spain was the path that best suited their definition of justice. That is why we are supporting them along this path,\u201d Fern\u00e1ndez said.<\/p>\n Jovana R\u00edos Cisneros, executive director of Women\u2019s Link Worldwide, asserted that Spanish prosecutors had decided to take statements from the two women and granted them the status of protected witnesses.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing heard by the Prosecutor\u2019s Office is a very important step in the search for justice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Fern\u00e1ndez said prosecutors had not set a date to take statements from the women and noted that prosecutors have up to six months to determine whether the information they receive warrants a criminal prosecution. Those six months could be extended to a year, she added. <\/p>\n The prosecutor\u2019s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.<\/p>\n Spanish online newspaper elDiario.es and Spanish-language television channel Univision Noticias published the joint investigation into Iglesias\u2019 alleged misconduct.<\/p>\n R\u00edos said the two women initially contacted elDiario.es, which began investigating the allegations but also advised the women to seek legal help.<\/p>\n Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said that the media reports regarding Iglesias \u201cdemanded respect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again I can reaffirm this government\u2019s firm and complete commitment to take on any act of violence, harassment or aggression against women,\u201d Saiz said Tuesday after the media reports were published.<\/p>\n Panky Corcino, spokesman for the attorney general\u2019s office in the Dominican Republic, declined to comment, saying he couldn\u2019t confirm or deny an investigation.<\/p>\n By law, any case in the Caribbean country that involves sexual aggression or violence must be investigated by prosecutors, even if no one has filed a complaint.<\/p>\n\u2018Forced labor and servitude\u2019<\/h2>\n
A singer under scrutiny<\/h2>\n