Madrid, Spain — The former president of Spain, Juan Carlos leaves the country to an unknown destination.
The announcement comes from weeks after Juan Carlos was linked to an inquiry into alleged corruption.
On Monday, the 82-year-old announced his movement on a letter to his son, Felipe, to whom he handed power six years ago. Juan Carlos however mentioned that he would be available for interview if the prosecutors are in need of it.
It is most likely that the former king had already left the country before the letter was released on Monday. Although some Spanish media reported that Juan Carlos is in the Dominican Republic, it is yet unknown where he actually is.
It is a humiliating exit for a king who had once seemed set to go down in history as the leader who skilfully guided Spain from dictatorship to democracy after the death of General Franco in 1975, BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake says.
Spain’s Supreme Court had opened an investigation in June that shows the alleged involvement of Juan Carlos in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia.
The former king was abdicated in 2014 after nearly 40 years as king following a corruption investigation involving his daughter’s husband and a controversial elephant hunting trip the monarch took during Spain’s financial crisis.
