Princess Cristina of Spain Faces Fraud Allegations In Court Trial

Princess Cristina of Spain arrived in court on Monday to begin trial for a landmark fraud case in which she is involved. She had been accused of helping her husband participate in an alleged scheme to embezzle about $6.5 million from municipal contracts particularly disbursed for conferences and sporting events.

Cristina and her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, entered the makeshift courthouse amid tight security. The royal couple, however, declined to give a comment to dozens of reporters who waited outside the venue. Cristina and Urdangarin sat silently together with a group of 16 other defendants as they listened to the judge read out the charges against them.

Urdangarin is an Olympic handball medalist-turned-businessman.

The U.S. News reported that 50-year-old Cristina faces two counts of tax fraud. She allegedly failed to declare taxes on personal expenses paid by a real estate company she owned with Urdangarin.

Cristina's trial marks the first time in history that a member of the Spain's royal family has been aligned in court since 1975, Japan Times noted . Her appearance in court is also seen as a crucial test for the Spanish monarchy, especially now that it has steadily improved its image.

Reports say judges face a tough task of deciding whether to apply the so-called Botin Doctrine in the case of the princess. The doctrine states that for people to be tried for tax crimes, they need the support of the public prosecutor despite the state being the injured party in such cases. Therefore, Cristina has a chance to avoid trial if the judges agree with her lawyers' arguments.

However, the same doctrine cannot apply to her husband.

Meanwhile, both Cristina and Urdangarin have reportedly denied the allegations in the complaint against them. 

Due to the number defendants and lawyers plus reporters covering the case, the court officials were forced to move the trial to a Palma de Mallorca, a building previously used to hold training courses for public servants.

If the case against Cristina proceeds to trial, she will be required to issue a testimony starting Feb.9. The trial, which is supported by the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), is expected to last for at least six months.

Clean Hands is reportedly praying for an eight-year prison sentence against Princess Cristina.