SANTANDER, Spain — Spain’s former king Juan Carlos I has been in the United Arab Emirates since August 3, the Royal Household said on Monday after weeks of silence on his whereabouts.
The scandal-hit monarch left Spain amid an ongoing scandal over alleged tax evasion two weeks ago.
Spanish media had previously reported that Juan Carlos had arrived in Abu Dhabi but it was unclear whether he was staying in the UAE or was en route to another destination. Juan Carlos is friends with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
The Royal Household’s announcement came after Spanish media reported Juan Carlos had received €64.8 million in 2008 from Saudi Arabia via an offshore account.
Tax authorities in Switzerland have provided information to the Spanish judicial system about the former king’s financial dealings, leading to questions about his activities after June 2014 when he abdicated and lost his immunity.
Prosecutors at Spain’s Supreme Court must now determine if there is sufficient evidence to open an investigation into possible money laundering and tax evasion by Juan Carlos after he stepped down from the throne.