Spanish authorities have opened a new investigation into former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after a trove of jewellery valued at €1.2 million was found in a safety deposit box linked to his administration. The discovery, made during a routine audit by the Bank of Spain, has prompted Gibraltar's law enforcement to be notified due to the box's location in a branch near the border.
The jewels, including diamond-studded watches and antique necklaces, were traced to a trust registered in the name of Rajoy's former chief of staff. Sources close to the inquiry confirm that the find, dating from 2011 to 2018, coincides with Rajoy's tenure. Rajoy, 69, has denied any knowledge of the deposit.
His party, the Partido Popular, has called the probe a politically motivated stunt. The investigation now extends to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory, where authorities are examining potential cross-border financial irregularities. This development marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny of Spain's political elite, already under pressure from corruption cases.
The former PM faces no formal charges, but the probe is active.
