Spanish Princess Cristina loses bid to avoid fraud trial
Spain’s Princess Cristina has lost an appeal to have criminal charges against her dropped so that she may not face trial.
A court in Madrid released a report on Friday saying that a panel of judges rejected Cristina’s argument that she should not be tried.
Princess Cristina’s lawyers had previously argued that as public prosecutors refused to press charges against her, the counts against her should be dropped.
The court has confirmed that the princess will face trial for tax fraud in a corruption trial that also ensnared her husband and 16 others.
The case revolves around the shady business dealings conducted by a Palma-based charitable organization, the Noos Institute – which is chaired by Cristina’s husband – Inaki Urdangarin, from 2004 to 2006.
If found guilty, the 50-year-old sister of Spain’s King Felipe VI could face a maximum of eight years in jail.
The Spanish princess has repeatedly denied knowing anything about the alleged embezzlement scam.
The case was launched in 2010 by a judge investigating corruption allegations among authorities on Balearic Islands. It has emerged highly symbolic of perceived corruption among Spain’s elites, including the royal family.
Last year, Felipe stripped Cristina and her husband of their titles as the duke and the duchess of Palma de Mallorca following their indictment.
Princess Cristina remains the sixth in line to the Spanish throne and is the first member of the royal family to go on trial. She now lives in Switzerland.
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