Princess summoned to court from Geneva
Princess Cristina of Spain has been called to appear in court in Mallorca as a formal suspect in a fraud and money-laundering case. She has been linked to the business affairs of her husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin.
The youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos, who has lived in Geneva with her four children since August 2013, has been ordered to appear in court on March 8 for questioning about her partnership with her husband in a firm called Aizoon.
He is already being investigated for allegations of using his position to embezzle €6 million (CHF7.4 million) in public contracts assigned to a supposedly non-profit foundation, Noos, he set up to organise conferences.
In November 2012 a number of properties belonging to him were impounded, including a luxury villa near Barcelona under joint ownership with the princess. Urdangarin denied any wrongdoing and was not charged with any crime. The court cancelled a subpoena against the princess for questioning in that case last year.
The Infanta Cristina has been working in Geneva for La Caixa Foundation that is part of the Spanish Caixa bank and is responsible for coordinating their programmes with United Nations agencies based in the Swiss city.
The summons is the latest in a chain of scandals for the Spanish monarchy, which is having a damaging effect on popular opinion of the royal family. Aside from the on-going financial investigations into the couple, the King has also been criticised for an elephant-hunting trip in Africa in 2012.
The princess is expected to appeal.
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