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Juan Carlos invokes immunity (archive image)
Photo: Francois Lenoir / REUTERS
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I has pleaded immunity to a British civil court in a dispute with his ex-lover Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.
As his lawyer Daniel Bethlehem said on Monday, the former monarch relied on a 1978 law that any allegations against him must be brought before the Spanish Supreme Court.
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn has sued Juan Carlos in London for compensation for harassment.
The ex-king is not above the law, stressed Bethlehem.
Juan Carlos is subject to the jurisdiction of the Spanish Supreme Court "because of his constitutional status".
In addition, there is a "public interest in protecting the dignity of the sovereign and close members of the royal family."
Juan Carlos is said to have showered lovers with gifts
Juan Carlos, who was head of state of Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014, rejects the allegations of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn "in the strongest possible way," said his lawyer.
The court documents describe that the then king and the plaintiff had an "intimate love affair" between 2004 and 2009 and that he is said to have showered them with gifts such as works of art, jewelry and money - even after they separated.
When Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn refused to revive the relationship, he displayed a "behavior pattern" that "amounted to harassment."
The 57-year-old claimant said she was threatened and that her property had been broken into;
In addition, the former king, who now lives in Abu Dhabi, "requested the return of gifts."
Surveillance measures as well as trespassing had put them in "fear and terror".
The lawyers of the former Spanish head of state argue that the English court has no jurisdiction over the case.
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn's lawyers, however, stated that Juan Carlos had given up his status as head of state when he resigned.
Now he is no longer entitled to immunity.
It appears that Juan Carlos is trying to "thwart" the trial, said the plaintiff's attorney, Jonathan Caplan.
A verdict in the trial listing the former king by his full name - Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón - is expected at a later date.
Juan Carlos, who was once celebrated for his work in Spain's transition from a fascist dictatorship to democracy, has recently been overtaken by a few scandals.
Among other things, it is about tax back payments, questionable money gifts in the millions from Saudi Arabia and allegations of money laundering, in which his ex-lover is said to be involved.
Both deny the allegations.
ptz / AFP
