Spain royals hit as king's son-in-law in court over scam
Source: Agencies |
February 24, 2013, Sunday
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THE Spanish king's son-in-law appeared before a judge on Mallorca island yesterday to respond to charges of tax fraud in a 6-million-euro (US$7.92 million) embezzlement case that has eroded public support for the once-popular royal family.
The scandal and other graft cases in which politicians are accused of taking millions of euros in bribes have enraged Spaniards at a time when unemployment has soared to 26 percent in a deep recession.
Inaki Urdangarin, a former Olympics handball player who is married to the king's daughter, the Infanta Cristina, is accused of using his powerful connections to win public contracts to put on events on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca and elsewhere in Spain. His Noos Foundation is suspected of overcharging for organizing conferences about the business of sports and hiding the proceeds abroad.
Dozens of police officials guarded the courthouse in Palma de Mallorca as Urdangarin got out of a car and walked down a 30-meter access ramp into the building for the closed-door hearing where he was to be questioned by Examining Magistrate Jose Castro.
Near the courthouse, a few hundred protesters chanted and held up signs reading "down with the monarchy" and "they call this a democracy but it isn't."
In Spain's legal system, lengthy pre-trial investigations are carried out by an examining magistrate, or judge. Urdangarin, 45, is charged with fraud, forgery, embezzlement and corruption. If convicted, he could face a jail term and fines.
Urdangarin was first charged and called in for questioning in 2011, but a trial could still be months or years away as the judge continues his probe and adds or dismisses charges. Judge Castro was expected to question Urdangarin for most of the day yesterday and perhaps into the early hours today.
Urdangarin is fighting an order that he and a former business partner in the Noos Foundation post bail of 8.2 million euros. His assets could be seized if he does not meet the bail conditions.
Judge Castro is trying to find out how much the Infanta Cristina knew about the business of the foundation. A criminal indictment of the king's daughter would be an unprecedented accusation against a royal in Spain.
The royal family has taken efforts to distance itself from Urdangarin, whose official title is Duke of Palma. Photos of him have been wiped off the royal website. He has also been banned from royal family events for over a year.
The scandal and other graft cases in which politicians are accused of taking millions of euros in bribes have enraged Spaniards at a time when unemployment has soared to 26 percent in a deep recession.
Inaki Urdangarin, a former Olympics handball player who is married to the king's daughter, the Infanta Cristina, is accused of using his powerful connections to win public contracts to put on events on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca and elsewhere in Spain. His Noos Foundation is suspected of overcharging for organizing conferences about the business of sports and hiding the proceeds abroad.
Dozens of police officials guarded the courthouse in Palma de Mallorca as Urdangarin got out of a car and walked down a 30-meter access ramp into the building for the closed-door hearing where he was to be questioned by Examining Magistrate Jose Castro.
Near the courthouse, a few hundred protesters chanted and held up signs reading "down with the monarchy" and "they call this a democracy but it isn't."
In Spain's legal system, lengthy pre-trial investigations are carried out by an examining magistrate, or judge. Urdangarin, 45, is charged with fraud, forgery, embezzlement and corruption. If convicted, he could face a jail term and fines.
Urdangarin was first charged and called in for questioning in 2011, but a trial could still be months or years away as the judge continues his probe and adds or dismisses charges. Judge Castro was expected to question Urdangarin for most of the day yesterday and perhaps into the early hours today.
Urdangarin is fighting an order that he and a former business partner in the Noos Foundation post bail of 8.2 million euros. His assets could be seized if he does not meet the bail conditions.
Judge Castro is trying to find out how much the Infanta Cristina knew about the business of the foundation. A criminal indictment of the king's daughter would be an unprecedented accusation against a royal in Spain.
The royal family has taken efforts to distance itself from Urdangarin, whose official title is Duke of Palma. Photos of him have been wiped off the royal website. He has also been banned from royal family events for over a year.
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