Royal son-in-law formally accused of corruption

Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma

The King's son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarín, is embroiled in a corruption case involving public finds (See Royal household allegedly involved in corruption scandal). New revelations in the case say that he negotiated contracts with members of the Balearic Popular Party (PP) at Marivent Palace, the royal family's holiday home in Mallorca. The Duke of Palma -his official title- is married to Infanta (Princess) Cristina, King Juan Carlos's youngest daughter: he is formally accused of misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement and administrative fraud through tourist-sports conventions organized by his supposedly non-profit Nóos Institute and is scheduled to appear in court on February 25th. The alleged misconduct was discovered when investigators looking into the Palma Arena case that involved a sports complex that ran over budget by some €65 million. The media are now reporting that the King urged his son-in-law to straighten things out as long ago as last March, but Urdangarín carried on operating via the foundation until after that, even though he was no longer part of its organization. Monies were allegedly 'diverted' to accounts in Belize and London, among other places, by the Duke and his business partner Diego Torres, to the tune of €5.2 million.