Spanish royal palace dubs Iñaki Urdangarin’s activities “inappropriate”

The Spanish royal palace has endorsed Iñaki Urdangarin, brotherinlaw of King Felipe VI, for ending his partnership at the Noos Institute, as he stands trial over alleged corruption offences committed in relation to the company’s commercial business, which the royal palace considered “inappropriate” and affecting the image of the royal family.

Alberto Aza, former head of the Spanish royal palace during the reign of King Juan Carlos I, said “In any case we never thought that he might be conducting irregular work, inappropriate yes, but not irregular.”

Aza testified on Wednesday before the judge in the Noos Case, in which investigations are currently ongoing into the embezzlement of 6.4 million euros ($7 million) from public funds for the benefit of the Noos Institute, despite the fact the company was originally established as a nonprofit entity, headed between 2002 and 2003 by Iñaki Urdangarin, husband of Infanta Cristina of Spain.

Aza explained that he was not aware of Urdangarin’s activity until the current political controversy surfaced.

He noted that he agreed with the legal adviser of the royal palace that it is necessary for Infanta Cristina’s husband to distance himself from any commercial activity, however he does not know how this advice was delivered.

Iñaki Urdangarin is facing charges of influencepeddling, embezzlement, breach of trust, forgery and moneylaundering through his management of Noos.