Sean Connery to testify in Spanish scandal

James Bond star Sean Connery and his wife will appear before a Spanish judge later this month concerning alleged money laundering and other irregularities relating to a vacation property he once owned in Spain.

However, there is no suggestion that the 79-year-old Scottish actor or his wife, French artist Micheline Roquebrune, 81, were involved in any wrongdoing, the Times of London has said.

"We have nothing to do with this. We sold the property and that's it," Roquebrune told the Times.

For 20 years, Connery and his second wife vacationed at their beachfront mansion, Casa Malibu, near Puerto Banus, one of the most expensive parts of the Costa del Sol. They sold the property in 1998.
Planning problems, financial irregularities

The hearing they will attend in Marbella is part of an ongoing investigation into planning abuses, embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion carried out during the administration of former Marbella mayor Jesus Gil y Gil, who held office between 1991 and 2002.

The Times reported that Connery and his wife sold the Spanish villa for $9 million US in 1998 after tiring of the overdevelopment of the area. The land was then reclassified for condominium apartments, at which time the alleged irregularities are said to have occurred.

Between 2004-2005, a four-storey block of 70 apartments was built on the land, and the units now sell for up to $2.8 million US.

About 100 people, included Marbella city councillors, developers and lawyers have been arrested during the investigation.

On Wednesday, Spain's National Police raided the Marbella and Madrid offices of law firm Diaz-Bastien & Truan, which handled the sale, and reportedly seized 30,000 documents, according to the Spanish daily El Mundo.