Spanish actress Elisa Mouliaá appears in Madrid court after judge ordered her arrest in defamation case brought by former politician Íñigo Errejón
Elisa Mouliaá voluntarily appeared at Plaza de Castilla courts on Wednesday after a judge had ordered her detention for missing three previous citations in a defamation lawsuit filed by ex-Sumar spokesman Íñigo Errejón.
Background of the case
The legal dispute between actress Elisa Mouliaá and former politician Íñigo Errejón began in 2021, when Mouliaá accused Errejón of sexual assault at a party. Errejón, who was then the parliamentary spokesman for the left-wing Sumar party, was later charged in that case. Separately, Errejón filed a defamation lawsuit against Mouliaá, alleging she had publicly claimed he extorted two witnesses in the sexual assault investigation. That defamation case is now being heard at Madrid's Court of Instruction Number 9.
Arrest order and missed appearances
Judge Arturo Zamarriego (identified as Adolfo Carretero in some reports) issued an arrest warrant for Mouliaá on 16 June after she failed to appear for a third scheduled court date. The actress was abroad, reportedly in Dubai for professional reasons, and had requested to testify via videoconference, a request the judge denied. The court stated she had shown "a clear and unequivocal intention to evade justice."
- Mouliaá accuses Errejón of sexual assault at a party; separate criminal investigation begins.
- Mouliaá appears at Plaza de Castilla courts in connection with the sexual assault case (archive photo).
- Judge Zamarriego orders Mouliaá's arrest after she misses a third court date in the defamation case.
- Mouliaá returns to Spain from Dubai, according to legal sources.
- Mouliaá appears voluntarily at Plaza de Castilla to testify in the defamation case.
Voluntary return and court appearance
Mouliaá returned to Spain on 23 June and presented herself at the Plaza de Castilla courthouse at 10:30 on 24 June, avoiding the execution of the arrest order. In a press statement, she said she had decided to return voluntarily "despite having previously accredited professional commitments abroad and having alleged medical circumstances that had already been provided to the proceedings." Her legal team argued the detention order was disproportionate for a case concerning social media posts.
Legal arguments
Errejón's defence requested that the judge impose a fortnightly reporting requirement on Mouliaá to "ensure her presence in the proceedings for future personal notifications and citations, given her evident procedural obstruction and the risk that she will again fail to appear." Mouliaá maintains she acted within her right to express opinions on matters of public interest and says she has "nothing to hide." Her representatives describe her return as proof of an "unequivocal willingness" to cooperate with the justice system.
