Self-Proclaimed ‘Prince of Marbella’ Acquitted, Notary Convicted
Antonio Pleguezuelos Velasco, who declared himself the ‘prince of Marbella’, has been acquitted of charges related to impersonating royalty, creating a website with fake ambassadors, and proposing to establish his own currency. However, the notary who certified his false title was found guilty and fined 3,600 euros.
High Court of Justice of Andalusia Revokes Conviction
The High Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) overturned the conviction of Pleguezuelos, but held the notary accountable for their negligence. The notary had drawn up an act of notoriety at Pleguezuelos’ request, stating that he held the title of ‘prince of Marbella’ for life, a royal dignity of the Kingdom of Spain.
Notary’s Negligence in Verifying Title
The court found that the notary had failed to verify the authenticity of the title, and had not requested any supporting documentation from Pleguezuelos. Instead, the notary had simply drafted the notoriety deed and published it in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE), thereby legitimizing a non-existent title.
Another Notary Refused Pleguezuelos’ Request
Pleguezuelos had previously approached another notary in Marbella, who had informed him that the deed was legally unfeasible. When Pleguezuelos asked this notary to publish the declaration in the BOE, the notary refused, citing a lack of legal basis for the request.
High Court Rules Misuse of Royal Title Punishable
The High Court ruled that the notary’s agreement to Pleguezuelos’ claim of being the prince of Marbella was punishable, as it was evidently false. The court warned of the potential public and legal implications of such a declaration.
Pleguezuelos Used Royal Palace Images on Website
According to the court ruling, Pleguezuelos had used images of the Royal Palace’s throne room on his website, claiming his supposed royal title was in accordance with a Royal Decree.
Lawyer for ‘Fake Prince’ Satisfied with Acquittal
Pedro Yarza Mayorga, the lawyer representing Pleguezuelos, expressed satisfaction with his client’s acquittal. He argued that Pleguezuelos could not be a co-conspirator in the crime of false documentation, as his only intention was to honor the Spanish Crown and represent Marbella globally.
