Former Spanish King Juan Carlos has been exiled over a corruption investigation into the €6.7bn Saudi Mecca-Medina Rail Link deal. Spain’s Supreme Court has said it aims to establish Juan Carlos’s connection with the Saudi project after his abdication in June 2014. The investigation included Swiss Banks too.
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos Exiled
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos, an 82-year-old declared his abdication in a note to his son, Felipe, who was given power by Juan about six years ago. He stated that he would be available if agents desired him to be examined.
During the month of June, the Supreme Court of Spain opened an investigation into Juan Carlos’s connection to a fast rail agreement with Saudi Arabia.
The former king had most probably left before the note was disclosed as per the El Pais newspaper. There is no validity or clarity of where Juan Carlos is, while some Spanish news comment stating that he was seen in the Dominican Republic.
This is an embarrassing departure of a king who was once looked upon to go down in history as the chief who accurately navigated Spain from tyranny to equality after the demise of General Franco in 1975, the BBC writer Nick Beake stated.
How #Coronavirus Was Smuggled Out of Saudi Arabiahttps://t.co/MUVnIqM89o
— GreatGameIndia (@GreatGameIndia) May 12, 2020
After being the king for at least 40 years, in 2014, Juan Carlos abdicated his throne following a corruption investigation related to his daughter’s groom and a rumored elephant shooting trip the king took at the time of Spain’s financial crisis.
King Juan Carlos – Biography
- King Juan Carlos was born in Italy, in the year of 1938
- He comes to power on 22nd November 1975 which was two days after the demise of General Francisco Franco
- Juan Carlos was widely admired for steering Spain to democracy during a difficult period
- But towards the end of his 39-year reign he drew growing criticism
- He abdicated on 18 June 2014 in promoting his boy, Felipe
What was in the letter?
The letter the former king wrote was about making a judgment “in the face of the public repercussions that certain past events in my private life are generating” in faith of granting his boy to continue his actions as the king with “tranquility.”
The letter added, “Guided by the conviction to best serve the people of Spain, its institutions, and you as king, I inform you of my decision at this time to leave Spain. A decision I make with deep emotion but with great serenity.”
The proclamation from the Zarzuela palace stated that King Felipe VI had brought “his heartfelt respect and gratitude” to his dad for this judgement.
Spain’s King Felipe VI has renounced his inheritance after the family finances were exposed in a Saudi money laundering scandal.https://t.co/lCMheO9eup
— GreatGameIndia (@GreatGameIndia) March 18, 2020
During the month of March, King Felipe VI denied his dad’s heritage. It was also stated that during that time by the royal palace that Juan Carlos will not receive the yearly donation of an amount of €194,000 ($228,000; £174,520).
€6.7bn Saudi Mecca-Medina Rail Link Deal
Spain’s Supreme Court has said it aims to establish Juan Carlos’s connection with the Saudi project after his abdication in June 2014. At that point he lost his immunity from prosecution.
Spanish firms won a €6.7bn (£6bn) deal to build a Mecca-Medina rail link. The investigation included Swiss Banks too.
The Spanish anti-corruption authorities claim that the former king had put up some undeclared funds in Switzerland, and that a Swiss case was underway.
The Spanish Government also stated that “justice is equal for all” and that will “not interfere” in the investigation.
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