Two years after the artist known as Diego ‘El Cigala’ faced public condemnation for alleged mistreatment, a formal case file has moved forward. The Court of Violence against Women No. 1 in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, completed its investigation and issued a decision regarding the allegations surrounding the singer and his former partner.
Judge Raquel López-Vizcaino recorded the woman’s testimony. She and El Cigala share two children, aged five and six. She left her job and family in Jerez, which led the artist to relocate to the Dominican Republic to support the children and continue his artistic career. Prosecutors considered photos and WhatsApp messages submitted by the singer as part of the complaint to illustrate the alleged ill-treatment spanning four years. Several people connected to the couple—family and friends—also provided statements supporting the woman’s account.
three crimes
With the evidence presented and after considering El Cigala’s response, the judge closed the investigation and, finding reasonable criminal indicators, charged the artist with three offenses. The recommendation is to bring him to trial for habitual abuse of his ex-wife, ongoing harassment, and a third count of ill-treatment aggravated by its occurrence in the family home.
According to the proceedings, during their relationship Ramón Jiménez Salazar (El Cigala) is said to have used disparaging terms toward his partner in the family home and in the presence of their underage children, including phrases implying contempt and hostility. The judge noted a denial of financial support for the ex-wife and their children as part of the alleged coercive dynamics.
“Indicatively, it has been shown that Ramón Jiménez Salazar (El Cigala) spoke to his partner in front of the children with expressions such as ‘whore’ and ‘miserable,’” the judge stated, describing the impact on the family environment.
The court observed that El Cigala allegedly forced the partner to leave the home and relocate with the children to satisfy his wishes, further exploiting his financial position to control her and prevent her from leaving while returning to Spain with the children.
Additionally, the artist is accused of physically assaulting his ex-wife between 2017 and 2020, with episodes described as blows and shoving. The decision highlights four serious violence incidents: a dispute at a hotel room in Guadalete, Jerez in 2017 where the partner was reportedly slapped; an August 2017 clash at Punta Cana airport where she was grabbed and shaken; and a July 2018 confrontation at a Barcelona hotel where she was allegedly punched and kicked. The couple’s disputes were amplified by reported drug issues, and a November 2020 incident involved the singer allegedly grabbing her by the neck.
Footage and other evidence were presented by the ex-wife in court to support these claims, contributing to the case’s evidentiary weight.
Experts reviewed the evidence for gender-based violence and provided assessments, forming part of the judicial process. In interviews, the ex-wife described living in the same home with the artist, facing drugs, fear, insults, and controlling behavior that constrained her professional life. She recalled being threatened, isolated, and often humiliated, with episodes of aggression tied to concerns over fidelity and personal autonomy.
“I was going to take the kids”
The ex-wife explained that a health issue in 2021 prompted her to return to Jerez for surgery, which intensified the pressure she faced. She described receiving numerous calls and messages while away, and she ultimately decided to return to Punta Cana with the children only after deciding she could not endure the situation any longer. The medical and psychological assessments that followed noted ongoing concerns about the environment and its impact on the children.
Experts prepared a report indicating that the described dynamics did not fully align with the gender-based violence framework in some aspects, but this finding did not undermine the broader concerns raised by the complainant’s testimony and the observed controlling behavior.
restraining order
The judge found sufficient evidence to send the case to trial and ordered ongoing measures to protect the ex-wife. The ongoing suspension on the part of the accused was extended to maintain safety and prevent new harm, with the record highlighting a pattern of insults and humiliation affecting the witness and the family environment. Prosecutors noted the vulnerable position of the ex-wife given the public nature of the case and the surrounding circumstances, including pressure from El Cigala’s entourage to withdraw the complaint.
The judge also considered WhatsApp messages and a small set of photographs exchanged during the relationship, presented as supporting material. One 2019 message from the ex-wife to her former partner illustrated the emotional toll and bruising she endured and conveyed a desire for resolution that was blocked by pressure to drop the case.
In addition, there is a reference to a helpline for victims of sexist violence and an acknowledgment of the importance of safeguarding measures for those involved until the legal process concludes.