Spain's Duke of Palma Inaki Urdangarin
The Spanish king’s son-in-law Inaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, will be questioned over alleged corruption. The duke moved to Washington in 2009, He arrived Saturday (18 February 2012) at a courthouse on this Mediterranean resort island for questioning. He has not been charged with any crime. Urdangarin, a former professional and Olympic handball player, is a commoner and does not belong to nobility. He became Duke of Palma because his wife Cristina is Duchess of Palma.
The duke is alleged to have used his high-profile status to win contracts from regional governments for a non-profit foundation he ran, and then subcontracted the work to companies he controlled, sometimes charging inflated prices and tucking away at least some of the profits in overseas tax havens.
The king has unceremoniously dropped Urdangarin, announcing in December that his son-in-law would no longer take part in official ceremonies with the rest of the family. The allegations have done serious damage to the public image of the king and the private side of the family which is now divided and going through a tough time.
If Urdangarin is charged and convicted of a crime, the princess might be stripped of the Duchess of Palma title.
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