On Saturday, December 31, 2011, a Spanish court in Palma de Majorca postponed the appearance of His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain’s son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, on accusations of corruption following legal representations. Mr. Urdangarin will now have to appear on February 25, 2012, instead of February 6.

Apparently, Judge Jose Aragon, who is in charge of the case, had received a number of requests from lawyers, including Urdangarin’s own, to put off the hearing to give them time to study the file.

The judge is investigating corruption in a non-profit organisation, Instituto Noos, formerly run by Urdangarin who is married to the His Majesty’s youngest daughter, Her Royal Highness Infanta Cristina.  Mr. Urdangarin’s lawyer, Mario Pascual Vives, said his client was “absolutely innocent”.

In a court document it notes that “… state prosecutors are investigating suspected forgery, perversion of the course of justice, fraud and embezzlement of public funds to the tune of several million euros…” according to AFP.

On December 12, the royal family suspended Mr. Urdangarin from official engagements and the palace’s highest official, Rafael Spottorno, gave an unprecedented rebuke, telling Spanish media his behaviour “does not seem exemplary”.

Source Associated Press and AFP