A journalist who investigated the case of two women who said they were sexually assaulted by singer Julio Iglesias, told Reuters on Wednesday (January 14) that the women were strong as public opinion was on their side despite Iglesia's fame.

The women worked in Julio Iglesias' Caribbean residences in the Dominican Republic and Bahamas over a 10-month period in 2021 and were cited in a three-year sexual assault investigation by U.S. broadcaster Univision and Spanish outlet elDiario.es published on Tuesday (January 13).

Elena Cabrera, head of culture in elDiario.es and one of the journalists of this investigation, said the women were initially afraid of coming forward with their claims. 

"They have seen that they are believed, which was one of their main fears, that he would be believed more, just because he is famous, well-known, just because he is Julio Iglesias,” she said.

The two women will provide testimony to Spanish prosecutors, the women's rights group that filed a complaint on their behalf said on Wednesday.

Attempts by Reuters to contact representatives of Iglesias, 82, on Tuesday and Wednesday by email and phone went unanswered. The star's record label, Sony, declined to comment.

Women's Link Worldwide said the complaint, which it filed at Spain's High Court on January 5, accused Iglesias of human trafficking for forced labour and servitude, alongside sexual abuse and violations of workers' rights.

Both women reported suffering sexual assault and workplace harassment while working for the singer, the outlets reported. The reports said Iglesias pressured them into sexual encounters and subjected them to additional physical and verbal abuse.

"That is how they feel, a labour slave and a sex slave," Cabrera said.

Cabrera, who said they have more testimonies from women and men working at Julio Iglesias, added that they gave the Spanish singer the opportunity to talk, but he refused.

Iglesias is one of the world's best-selling Latin artists, with more than 300 million records sold in 14 languages. 

 Ana Redondo, Spain's Socialist-led government's Equality Minister, said in a statement she respected Iglesias' presumption of innocence but that she believed the women's testimony.

Production: Guillermo Martinez, Nina Lopez, Silvio Castellanos, Elena Rodriguez/Reuters