Spain's Princess Christina named as suspect in corruption case
Royal to give evidence on her role in
not-for-profit foundations amid allegations of corruption and money laundering
The Guardian
Allegations
of corruption and tax fraud struck at the heart of Spain's royal family on Wednesday
as the king's daughter, Princess Cristina, was formally named as a suspect in a
court investigation.
The
dramatic decision by investigating magistrate José Castro will see the princess
called to give evidence at a courthouse in Palma de Mallorca, capital of the
Balearic Isles, on 27 April.
The
decision is a blow for King Juan Carlos, as a once model royal family begins to
buckle under the weight of public scandal.
A
spokesman at the king's Zarzuela Palace in Madrid expressed surprise at the
decision. "The royal household is in absolute agreement with a decision by
state anti-corruption prosecutors to appeal against the decision," he
said.
Princess
Cristina, aged 47, must explain her role as a board member of a non-profit
foundation set up by her husband, former Olympic handball player Iñaki
Urdangarin.
Castro
said that, by lending her name and titles to her husband's business affairs,
Princess Cristina may have aided and abetted his allegedly crooked dealings.
Urdangarin
is under investigation for allegedly using not-for-profit companies and
foundations to strike deals involving millions of euros of taxpayers money with
corrupt regional officials in Valencia, the Balearic Islands and Madrid.
He
also allegedly committed tax fraud and syphoned money off to offshore bank
accounts and his own companies, including one co-owned by his wife.
Castro
said Princess Cristina's name may have helped persuade private companies and
corrupt politicians to "forget the necessary administrative channels and
controls, and for her to profit – along with her husband – from that".
Urdangarin
told the magistrate his wife did not know how the supposedly not-for-profit
foundation where she was a board member was run. But Castro listed 14 reasons
to challenge that – pointing out that deals were negotiated with politicians at
the royal family's palaces and that, according to witnesses, the king had
expressed his concern.
Spain's
media immediately splashed the news over websites and journalists gathered
outside the couple's €6m Barcelona home.
Urdangarin
is reportedly struggling to come up with his share of the €8.1m bail set for
him and his former business partner Diego Torres, who both deny the
allegations.
Court
evidence published by El País newspaper revealed that the royal secretary who
works with the princess had told Castro the king did not know his daughter was
involved in her husband's business dealings.
Republican
deputies in parliament welcomed the decision to make the princess – who will
visit the court on a Saturday so that special security measures can be set up –
declare before the investigating magistrate.
"Better
late than never," said the leader of the United Left coalition in
parliament, Cayo Lara. "Perhaps, with this, the king's words about us all
being equal before the law are being proved."
In the
Spanish legal system, an investigating magistrate can declare someone to be a
suspect when they are under investigation. This does not necessarily mean they
will be charged, but points to evidence that raises a suspicion.