The investigating judge at the Audiencia Nacional, José Luis Calama, on 27 October 2026 rejected an application by former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to send a letter rogatory to Saudi Arabia to confirm the alleged origin of three seized pieces of jewellery. In his ruling, Calama justified the rejection on the grounds that Zapatero’s account lacked objectively verifiable supporting evidence and therefore did not provide sufficient grounds for international legal assistance.
Zapatero had argued in the proceedings that the items were a gift from the then King of Saudi Arabia in 2007. The judge does not accept this account for now. Calama notes that there is as yet no independent evidence to support the claim about their origin. The ruling does not prejudge the substantive assessment of the case, but it sets a clear limit on further investigations abroad while there is no compelling evidence from the Spanish proceedings.
The decision follows earlier investigative measures. In September, Calama had already ordered an additional expert examination of the jewellery to clarify its characteristics, origin and possible market value. According to the court, the results of this supplementary assessment will be material to the further evaluation of the evidence. The court also stresses that, under Spanish procedural law, requests for legal assistance from third countries may be considered only where there are specific, verifiable lines of inquiry.
Zapatero’s defence continues to maintain that the items were protocol gifts received during his time in office, and had presented an international request as a suitable way to clarify matters quickly. The investigating judge considers this course inappropriate at present. Whether international steps will be reconsidered at a later stage, depending on the outcome of the evidence-gathering underway in Spain, remains open.
The ruling was made public on Tuesday in Madrid . The procedural step was reported consistently by Europa Press, RTVE and EFE. No statement from Saudi Arabia was initially available. The proceedings at the Audiencia Nacional are continuing; the current ruling does not involve any decision on charges.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).