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Spanish king’s sister to stand trial on tax fraud charges Spanish king’s sister to stand trial on tax fraud charges
(about 3 hours later)
Cristina de Borbón, sister of King Felipe VI of Spain, will stand trial on charges of tax fraud – the first Spanish royal to face prosecution in court. Cristina de Borbón, sister of King Felipe VI of Spain, is to stand trial on charges of tax fraud, capping the most tumultuous year for the Spanish royal family since the monarchy was restored after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
The development caps the Spanish royal family’s most tumultuous year since the monarchy was restored after the death of Franco in 1975. The princess, 49, will become the first modern Spanish royal to face court prosecution following a scandal that has outraged many Spaniards and contributed to a sharp fall in the popularity of the monarchy.
Judge José Castro has now concluded his four-year investigation into the dealings of a company partly owned by Cristina’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, finally deciding to press charges against the princess relating to the fiscal years of 2007 and 2008. Urdangarin has been charged with breach of legal duty, embezzling public funds, fraud, influence-peddling and money-laundering. The development came as Judge José Castro concluded a four-year investigation into the dealings of a company partly owned by Cristina’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, deciding to press charges against the princess relating to the fiscal years of 2007 and 2008. Urdangarin has been charged with breach of legal duty, embezzling public funds, fraud, influence-peddling and money-laundering.
Cristina and Urdangarin are among 17 people who will go on trial, possibly late next year, for offences relating to the now-defunct Nóos Institute, a non-profit company that allegedly charged inflated prices to regional governments for leisure-related events. The case has cast a long shadow over the monarchy since the investigation began in 2010 and, during the recent years of economic hardship, has fuelled public anger. The decision to put Cristina on trial will be seen as an embarrassment for Felipe, 46, who succeeded to the throne following the tearful abdication in June of his 76-year-old-father, Juan Carlos.
Approval ratings for the royal family were at their lowest level in Spain’s democratic era when Felipe took over the throne in June, after King Juan Carlos abdicated following a series of embarrassing incidents and the emergence of the Nóos case. Cristina, the former king’s youngest daughter, and her husband are among 17 people who will go on trial, possibly late next year, for offences relating to the now-defunct Nóos Institute, a non-profit company that allegedly charged inflated prices to regional governments for leisure-related events.
Cristina and Urdangarin had already been excluded from official events, but pressure will now grow for the king’s elder sister to renounce her accession rights. Cristina is sixth in line to the Spanish throne. The couple had already been excluded from official events, but pressure will now grow for the king’s elder sister, who is sixth in line to the throne, to renounce her accession rights.
Castro, who heard testimony from Cristina in a Mallorca court earlier this year, ruled on Monday that the 49-year-old princess had “directly benefited in financial terms” from the alleged crimes. Urdangarin and his former business partner, Diego Torres, are said to have used the Nóos Institute to siphon off some €6m (£4.7m) into tax havens. Castro, who heard testimony from Cristina in a Mallorca court earlier this year, ruled on Monday that the princess had “directly benefited in financial terms” from the alleged crimes. Urdangarin and his former business partner, Diego Torres, are said to have used the Nóos Institute to siphon off some €6m (£4.7m) into tax havens.
Cristina, who currently resides in Switzerland with Urdangarin and their children, was half-owner of Aizoon, officially a property company which was set up with her husband but which was allegedly used as a means to repatriate Nóos funds. Cristina, who lives in Switzerland with Urdangarin and their children, was half-owner of Aizoon, officially a property company which was set up with her husband but which was allegedly used as a means to repatriate Nóos funds.
The judge has ordered Cristina to put up a liability bond of €2.6m, but she is unlikely to receive a jail sentence of more than two years, which means she will almost certainly avoid imprisonment even if found guilty. Urdangarin faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Both Cristina and her husband have denied wrongdoing. The judge has ordered Cristina to put up a liability bond of €2.6m but she is unlikely to receive a jail sentence of more than two years, which means she will almost certainly avoid imprisonment if found guilty. Urdangarin faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Both Cristina and her husband have denied wrongdoing.
In a statement on Monday, the royal household stressed its “total respect for judicial independence”, adding that Cristina’s decision on whether to renounce her right to succession was hers alone.In a statement on Monday, the royal household stressed its “total respect for judicial independence”, adding that Cristina’s decision on whether to renounce her right to succession was hers alone.
Cristina Federica of Bourbon and Greece, who has a master degree in international relations from New York University and had represented Spain in the sailing team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, married Urdangarin, a member of the Spanish Olympic handball team in 1997. It was celebrated as a “fairytale wedding” for a popular princess. Her husband became Duke of Palma on their marriage.
She works for a charitable foundation run by La Caixa bank, and is posted in Geneva.
Opposition to the monarchy has grown in Spain in recent years. While Juan Carlos was admired for steering Spain’s transition to democracy after Franco’s death, he had faced recent criticism over an elephant hunting trip to Botswana while Spain faced a severe economic crisis. The Nóos scandal helped fuel discontent with the royals.
On his accession, Felipe promised an “honest and transparent monarchy” and in his inaugural speech pledged that “the crown must constantly earn citizens’ appreciation, respect and trust” and said the royal family must behave in an exemplary manner. He has avoided offering any public support for his sister since the Nóos investigation was launched.
The leader of the main opposition Socialist party, Pedro Sánchez, said earlier this month that Cristina should abandon her place in the line of succession if formally charged. Podemos, a 10-month-old leftwing party which is now polling consistently over 20% in voter surveys, has said it would put the monarchy up for a referendum if it takes power in next year’s elections.The leader of the main opposition Socialist party, Pedro Sánchez, said earlier this month that Cristina should abandon her place in the line of succession if formally charged. Podemos, a 10-month-old leftwing party which is now polling consistently over 20% in voter surveys, has said it would put the monarchy up for a referendum if it takes power in next year’s elections.
Felipe has avoided offering any public support for his sister since the Nóos investigation was launched in 2010.
Called to testify in February, the princess declined to answer most of the questions put to her. “I trusted my husband,” she was quoted as telling Castro, emphasising that she was not privy to day-to-day dealings at Nóos despite being a board member.Called to testify in February, the princess declined to answer most of the questions put to her. “I trusted my husband,” she was quoted as telling Castro, emphasising that she was not privy to day-to-day dealings at Nóos despite being a board member.
The public prosecutor in the case previously challenged Castro’s decisions to include the princess as an official suspect in the investigation and last week hinted in the press that he would consider an appeal against her being charged even at this stage.The public prosecutor in the case previously challenged Castro’s decisions to include the princess as an official suspect in the investigation and last week hinted in the press that he would consider an appeal against her being charged even at this stage.