PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain (AP) – Spanish Princess Cristina’s husband was unable to explain in court Thursday how personal expenses such as safari trips and wine for him and his wife were billed to the credit card of a company they co-owned – but insisted he never knew he might have been doing anything questionable.
Testifying for a third day in a tax fraud-and-embezzlement trial, Inaki Urdangarin insisted that his wife never used the credit card for the Aizoon real estate consultancy the couple co-owned. He said he and other people used it and he passed the bills to his secretary at the company, which has been labeled a “front company” in court documents.
The case centers on accusations that Urdangarin used his former title of Duke of Palma to embezzle about 6 million euros ($6.6 million) in public funds. Seventeen people are charged in the case, including Urdangarin and the princess. His wife is scheduled to testify either later Thursday or Friday.
An investigative judge found that the couple never reported as income personal expenses billed to the company, but Urdangarin testified he relied on the advice of others for determining which expenses should be charged to Aizoon.
“I have never been aware of committing any tax offense because I had my advisers who told me everything was correct,” Urdangarin said.