MADRID (AP) – Princess Cristina’s husband told a Spanish court Wednesday that palace officials oversaw the princess’ tax dealings and were aware of his business operations at the Noos Institute, which is at the center of a tax-and-embezzlement trial in which the couple and 15 others are accused.
Inaki Urdangarin told prosecutors he never made any decisions without consulting one palace official who handled the princess’ affairs and that another official representing the royal household oversaw his wife’s taxes.
Cristina, sister of King Felipe VI, is the first Spanish royal to face criminal charges since the monarchy’s 1975 restoration. The princess faces a possible eight-year sentence while Urdangarin faces nearly 20 years in prison if convicted.
Urdangarin’s testimony coincided with that of fellow accused and former business partner Diego Torres, who told the court last week that the nonprofit Noos Institute he founded with Urdangarin presented its accounts for periodic approval to a palace lawyer as well as to tax inspectors.
The case centers on accusations that Urdangarin – a former Olympics handball star-turned-entrepreneur – used his former title of Duke of Palma to embezzle about 6 million euros ($6.6 million) in public contracts awarded the institute for sports events from 2004 to 2007.