Notícies Dilluns 10.02.2014 12:27

Controversy over publication of hidden video of Princess Cristina's testimony in tax fraud case

Spanish princess called before judge on charges of tax fraud and money laundering

Cristina of Bourbon's weekend testimony in the tax fraud and money laundering case continues in the news. On Sunday, daily El Mundo published a photograph of the Spanish Princess on the witness stand, despite a news whiteout by the judge, and today, the same paper published a clandestine video of a fragment of her testimony.

It's a low quality video, made from one corner of the courtroom, probably with a cell phone. The audio is also low quality. Indeed, it's easier to hear the shouting of the demonstrators outside than the words of the judge and of the king's daughter. El Mundo added subtitles to Cristina of Bourbon's testimony, and recorded her saying multiple times that she didn't remember or didn't know the answer to what they were asking her. The judge has opened a file for the Sunday publication of the photograph of the princess' testimony and it will surely do the same for the publication of this video, which quickly spread through social media.

The testimony

The truth is that according to reports over the weekend, Juan Carlos' daughter answered evasively to questions posed by José Castro, according to Manuel Delgado, the attorney for the prosecution. The lawyer said that the Spanish king's daughter repeatedly answered that she didn't remember the answer to what was being asked, and she distanced herself from Nóos and Aizoon, the businesses that she owned 50% of which with her husband, Iñaki Urdangarín. 'I trusted my husband,' she told the judge.

The lawyer added that when Judge Castro asked her why Aizoon was created, the princess answered that she did it because she 'trusted' her husband and that she did not directly manage either Aizoon or Nóos.

In addition, according to legal sources, when Judge Castro asked her if she knew that the royal family had asked Urdangarín, in 2006, to leave his business dealings with Nóos, Cristina admitted that she did know about it.

Cristina's defense attorney said he was satisfied with the first part of her testimony. Her criminal lawyer, Jesús Silva said that the princess had not resorted at any point to 'avoiding' questions, and answered everything she was asked, indicating that 'she knew, she didn't know, or what she should have known'. Silva insisted that her 'concrete, concise, and explanatory' answers to hundreds of the judge's questions would be instrumental in exonerating the princess, although he couldn't say when.