Spanish Princess to testify over graft charges
13 Jan 2014 4:14 AM IST
Spain’s Princess Cristina, daughter of King Juan Carlos, will appear before a Palma de Mallorca court to testify over tax fraud and money-laundering charges she denies but has decided not to appeal, her lawyers said on Saturday.
It is the first time a member of Spain’s royal family will testify as the subject of criminal proceedings since Juan Carlos came out of exile to reclaim the throne after the end of the Francisco Franco dictatorship in 1975.
‘Her Royal Highness has decided to renounce her right to appeal... and to appear voluntarily before the judge,’ her law firm Roca Junyent said in a statement.
However, the lawyers said they ‘absolutely and firmly disagree’ with the charges brought against Princess Cristina, which were made public this week by Palma de Mallorca Examining Magistrate Jose Castro after a lengthy investigation.
The case is centred on Princess Cristina’s involvement in a charitable organisation called Noos Foundation run by her husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin.
It is the first time a member of Spain’s royal family will testify as the subject of criminal proceedings since Juan Carlos came out of exile to reclaim the throne after the end of the Francisco Franco dictatorship in 1975.
‘Her Royal Highness has decided to renounce her right to appeal... and to appear voluntarily before the judge,’ her law firm Roca Junyent said in a statement.
However, the lawyers said they ‘absolutely and firmly disagree’ with the charges brought against Princess Cristina, which were made public this week by Palma de Mallorca Examining Magistrate Jose Castro after a lengthy investigation.
The case is centred on Princess Cristina’s involvement in a charitable organisation called Noos Foundation run by her husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin.
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