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Urdangarin behind bars

The bother-in-law of the Spanish King begins to serve his almost six-year sentence for fraud in the VIP male wing of a women’s prison near Àvila

Iñaki Urdangarin, sentenced by the Spanish Supreme Court to five years and ten months in prison for the Nóos case, yesterday began to serve his sentence in the prison of Brieva (Àvila), according to sources of penitentiary sources.Torres askspardon

Urdangarin was able to choose any prison in the State and finally opted for Brieva, in Ávila, while his former colleague Diego Torres, who has asked for the suspension of the sentence while his request for a pardon is being considered, chose the Brians 2 prison in Sant Esteve Sesrovires (Baix Llobregat). He also entered prison yesterday.

The prison at Brieva is a women’s institution, but Spain’s penitentiary services has made an exception in this case, as it did in 1995 with the former director general of the Guardia Civil Luis Roldán, who was also incarcerated for corruption. The prison, just seven kilometres from Àvila has some 800 inmates and a separate male wing for just six inmates but was empty until yesterday. It is considered one of the most secure penitentiaries in Spain. The module where Urdangarin is being held was renovated in recent months with a new heating and hot water system, renovation of the bathrooms and repairs to the sports pavilion roof. It is not yet clear if Urdangarin will complete his sentence there.

A number of political parties are unhappy about what they consider to be the special provisions favouring the new inmate. Podem’s Pablo Echenique claimed it “is evident” that there is obviously privilege for the monarchy. “Common prisoners do not have the same privileges as the King’s brother-in-law,” he said.

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