007 becomes Dr No as Sir Sean tells Spain he cannot appear in court case

A THRONG of journalists gathered outside a Marbella courthouse awaiting a cameo appearance from James Bond star Sir Sean Connery in the corruption inquiry which has become known as the "Operation Goldfinger" case.

But the veteran star and his wife opted to skip the part yesterday - after telling the Spanish judge they were too old to make a court date.

Sir Sean, who found fame as British spy James Bond in movies including Goldfinger, and Lady Connery, are part of a corruption inquiry in Spain's Costa del Sol.

The Edinburgh-born actor, now aged 80, and his French-born wife, Micheline, 81, were due to be quizzed by a judge in Marbella about the sale of their luxury mansion, now at the centre of a multi-million pound corruption investigation.

But in a fax sent from their home in the Bahamas they said they were "at the disposition of the court" but were unable to appear in the case, disappointing about 50 reporters, photographers and cameramen, who had descended on the courthouse. There was speculation last night, that they will seek to testify by video.

They couple were due to be questioned about the sale of their mansion, Casa Malibu, where they lived for nearly 20 years, in a closed door hearing.

Judge Ricardo Puyol is heading a wider probe into allegations of corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion in Marbella.

The Connerys were cautioned that they would be treated as potential suspects, but have not been charged with any crime.

The Connerys' mansion was sold more than a decade ago, but later demolished with a four-storey apartment complex containing 72 luxury flats built in its place.

The Spanish revenue service has estimated that the final project raised 53 million euros - more than 46.6m - most of which allegedly ended-up in tax free havens.

The couple became involved after police raided a law practice, which handled the sale of Casa Malibu, as part of the biggest urban corruption investigation ever conducted in Spain - the so-called Malaya Case.

It was then that a separate investigation centred on the Malibu project was launched.

In 2006, the Spanish government took the unprecedented step of dissolving the entire Marbella city council.City officials were accused of accepting bribes and other favours in exchange for granting building permits during a nationwide real estate boom that largely fuelled Spain's economy but has since collapsed.

A total of 95 people went on trial last month, although the case involving Sir Sean and others is separate.

Judge Puyol had reportedly been annoyed that the British embassy in Madrid forwarded a letter from Sir Sean threatening legal action anyone who allows the court case to become public knowledge.

The actor complained that he and his wife had not received any communication from the court on the details of the case or any allegations against them.

The judge had warned that he would take whatever legal steps were necessary to oblige the couple to attend his court. However, he could apply for a commission rogatoria, which would see the couple questioned by Spanish officials under the supervision of a judge in the Bahamas.

Sir Sean is patron of the Edinburgh International Film Festival and joined film-goers at the festival in June, as well as unveiling a plaque near his childhood home in Fountainbridge. He has cut back on public appearances because of other health problems.