JAKARTA - Legendary Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has spoken out about serious allegations of abuse and human trafficking made by two of his former employees.
The father of musician Enrique Iglesias firmly stated that all claims in the criminal complaint were completely false and unfounded.
The case came to light after a three-year joint investigation by the Univision Noticias television network and the Spanish news site elDiario.es.
The investigation involves collecting testimonies from at least 15 former staff who have worked for the singer.
Two women, using the pseudonyms Rebecca and Laura, claimed to be victims of unpleasant treatment while working at Iglesias' residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in 2021.
In her report, Rebecca claimed that she was often called to Iglesias' private room at the end of working hours and then touched inappropriately without consent. This situation made her feel like a slave under strict control.
Meanwhile, Laura accused Iglesias of kissing her on the lips forcefully and groping her. The two agreed that there was a normalization of harassment and a work environment full of intimidation and constant harassment.
Responding to the report, which has now entered the preliminary investigation stage by prosecutors at the Spanish High Court, Julio Iglesias uploaded an official statement via his personal Instagram account.
"I deny having harassed, coerced, or insulted any woman. These accusations are completely untrue and deeply saddening," Iglesias wrote, quoting a statement on Instagram, Sunday, January 18.
He emphasized that the accusation was false and caused deep sorrow for him, while thanking the fans for their support which gave him strength in the current situation.
"I have never felt such hatred, but I still have the strength to tell people the whole truth and defend my dignity against such serious accusations," he added.
The legal action against Julio Iglesias was filed through the organization Women's Link Worldwide, which highlighted that the victims were young Latin American women in a vulnerable situation who were highly dependent on wages due to their economic conditions.
On the other hand, the investigation report states that the testimony of the reporters has been consistent for more than a year and is supported by extensive documentary evidence, ranging from call logs, WhatsApp messages, to medical reports.
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