Sean Connery subpoenaed in corruption probe

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Sean Connery subpoenaed in corruption probe

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/10/sean-connery-subpoenaed-corruption-probe/

By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, October 7th, 2010 -- 3:27 pm

Oscar-winning film star Sean Connery and his wife have been subpoenaed to testify before a Spanish judge in an investigation into a property scandal, court sources said Thursday.

The 80-year-old actor, who currently lives in the Bahamas, was named in May in the investigation dubbed "Goldfinger" after the 1964 James Bond film and which involves the sale of his luxury seaside villa near the jet-set resort of Marbella.

Connery sold the villa, named Malibu, in 1999 reportedly for around nine million dollars (6.5 million euros).

The villa was subsequently knocked down, and a four-storey luxury apartment complex with 72 flats was built on the land where it once stood in 2004-2005, despite planning rules which said only five homes could be constructed on it.

In May police raided the Madrid and Marbella offices of a law firm which is believed to have handled the sale of the firm.