Deutsche Welle, 3 April 2013
A Spanish court has summoned the daughter of King Juan Carlos to appear as a suspect in a high-profile corruption case. Princess Cristina’s husband is accused of embezzlement and peddling influence.
A Spanish court has summoned the daughter of King Juan Carlos to appear as a suspect in a high-profile corruption case. Princess Cristina’s husband is accused of embezzlement and peddling influence.
The court
in Palma de Mallorca on Wednesday named the 47-year-old princess as the suspect
in a case involving her husband and former Olympic handball player, Inaki
Urdangarin.
In a
decree, it said there was reason to believe the may have been involved in the
alleged corruption by her husband and his former business partner Diego Torres.
Investigating
judge, Jose Castro, said that to close the case without hearing from Princess
Cristina would "discredit the maxim that justice is equal for all."
He
maintained there were signs that the princess was aware that her husband was
using her name and status to obtain contracts. The princess was a board member
of two of her husband's companies.
"Evidence
has arisen that allows room for doubt," said Castro, summoning the
princess to appear on April 27.
Conflicting
accounts
Urdangarin,
who has so far not been charged with any crime, has tried to distance his wife
and the royal family from the case. However, Torres provided the judge with
emails showing that Urdangarin regularly consulted his wife about Noos
business.
As well as
the accusations of abusing influence, Urdangarin and Torres are being
investigated over allegations that they embezzled more than 6 million euros
($7.8 million). The money was allegedly funneled through the charitable
organization, the Noos Institute, which organized sports and tourism events in
both the Balearic Islands and the Valencia region.
After the
ruling, prosecutors said there had been no evidence against the Princess
Cristina and that they would lodge an appeal against the decision to summons her.
rc/kms (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
Princess
Cristina must give evidence on her role in foundations
set up by her husband,
former Olympic handball player Inakî
Urdangarin. Photograph: Bertil
Ericson/AFP/Getty Images
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