Sean Connery misses Spanish court date

MARBELLA, Spain, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Academy Award-winning actor Sean Connery failed to appear in a Spanish courtroom, raising the possibility of an international arrest warrant.

Connery faxed the Costa del Sol court to say he hadn't had enough time to prepare for the trip from his home in the Bahamas to make the Friday court date regarding a disputed land deal, Britain's Daily Mail reported.

The investigating magistrate had threatened to issue an arrest warrant for Connery, 80, but the Mail said it's more likely the court will ask to speak to Connery at his Caribbean home.

"Mr. Connery has informed the court in writing he won't be coming today. He has cited health reasons and his advanced age and said he has not been able to prepare the journey in time," a court worker said.

"The court is now considering its next move. The emission of an international arrest warrant is a possibility but a remote one. The most likely scenario is that the investigating magistrate will make a formal request through a rogatory commission to question Sir Sean at his home.

"The logistics of this will become clearer next week. It could be that a delegation goes to the Bahamas to quiz him. The other option would be that a team based locally is tasked to interview him."

Connery was served a summons to appear before Marbella's Investigating Court No. 1 to answer questions about a land deal involving property he and his wife sold in 1999. More than 70 apartments were constructed on this site, violating regulations that said only five units could be built on the premises.

Connery's wife, Michelle Roquebrune, has previously said: "We have nothing to do with this. We sold the property and that is it."