Spanish prosecutor urges trial of Duke of Palma for fraud

Prosecutor Pedro Horrach said that if Cristina’s husband, Inaki Urdangarin, is tried and found guilty, he should be sentenced to 19-and-a-half years

The prosecutor said that Inaki Urdangarin should be sent to prison for over 19 years if convicted of fraud (Getty)

Princess Cristina of Spain’s husband should be tried for fraud and embezzlement, but there’s no basis for charges against her, a prosecutor said yesterday in a corruption probe that has weighed heavily on Spain’s royal family.

Prosecutor Pedro Horrach said that if Cristina’s husband, Inaki Urdangarin, is tried and found guilty, he should be sentenced to 19-and-a-half years in prison.

The four-year-old probe centres on allegations that Mr Urdangarin used his Duke of Palma title to embezzle about €6m (£4.74m) in public contracts through the Noos Institute, a non-profit foundation that he and a business partner set up that channelled money to other businesses, including Aizoon, a company he owned with Cristina. Mr Horrach recommended a trial of 13 others in the case, including the former partner, Diego Torres.

Mr Horrach said there is no evidence to try Cristina, a sister of King Felipe VI, on tax charges. He said the Supreme Court has already ruled that people can’t be tried on tax charges if prosecutors and tax authorities don’t call for them. However, he said Cristina, 49, should be made to pay €580,000 to cover the money she could have profited from owing to her husband’s alleged illegal dealings.

Princess Cristina testified in the case in February, becoming the first Spanish royal to appear in court since the Spanish monarchy was restored in 1975.

Palma de Mallorca investigative Judge Jose Castro will now decide who should be indicted, and whether to accept all the prosecutor’s recommendations to send the case to trial under a different judge. He could also disagree with the findings and issue his own, including sending Cristina to be prosecuted, something her lawyers would likely appeal.

Felipe, 46, became king in June when his father Juan Carlos stepped down after a four-decade reign. Felipe pledged to restore public trust in the monarchy. Under a palace reshuffle ordered by the new king, Cristina and her sister, Princess Elena, are no longer part of the official royal family.

AP