Trial of Spanish royal princess looms

A judge in Spain has rejected the appeal from Princess Cristina’s lawyers who had argued that she should be spared trial because she had already suffered during the investigation into her husband’s business affairs.

The princess, 49, was indicted last month on two counts of being an accessory to tax fraud. The investigating magistrate set a bond of €2.7m at the same time as specifying that his decision to put Cristina on trial could not be appealed.

Her lawyers, however, argued that her right to appeal was guaranteed by the constitution. They said she had suffered tremendous personal and public consequences during the three years of the investigation.

Magistrate José Castro still refused to admit the appeal.

Cristina’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, faces charges of money laundering and fraud. It is alleged that the former Olympic handball player’s charitable foundation called the Nóos Institute embezzled €5.8m in public funds.

Cristina was on the foundation’s board and the pair jointly owned another company, Aizoon, which is suspected of being a front to launder money.

Castro noted on several occasions during his investigation that it would have been difficult for Urdangarin to engage in the alleged activities without his wife’s knowledge. She has denied any wrongdoing.

The princess is 6th in line for the throne. Her father, King Juan Carlos, abdicated last year in the wake of several scandals in favour of Cristina’s brother Felipe.

She is the first Spanish royal ordered to stand trial since the monarchy was restored in 1975.

You must be a registered user to make comments.
Please register here to post your comments.