The son and inheritor of the billionaire founding father of Mango, Isak Andic, is being probed as a suspect within the trend tycoon’s loss of life — after he plunged from a cliff final yr whereas the pair have been out climbing.
Andic, the proprietor of the worldwide trend empire, died after falling greater than 320 ft within the Montserrat caves close to Barcelona final December in what authorities described on the time as an accident.
However following a 10-month probe, a number of native media shops reported Thursday that the case has since shifted to a doable murder investigation – and his son, Jonathan Andic, 44, is now formally being checked out.
Officers zeroed in on Andic’s son – who was appointed vice-president of Mango’s board after his dad’s loss of life — as a possible suspect because of the contradictory statements he gave to cops when the tragedy occurred, the La Vanguardia newspaper reported, citing sources.
Authorities have been looking the scion’s cellphone for any potential proof – together with images of the scene which will have been deleted, his cellphone name logs and the route the pair took that fateful day, the sources mentioned.
When the tragedy first unfolded, Jonathan – who was the only witness — had instructed cops he’d been strolling simply forward of his father on the slim Les Feixades path – a route that’s typically frequented by households and one authorities described as “not particularly harmful.”
After listening to stones falling, Jonathan mentioned he turned to see his father abruptly falling off the sting of the trail.
Sources acquainted with the probe additionally instructed the El Pais outlet that Jonathan’s model of occasions could not align with the forensic proof from the positioning.
The sources added that investigators had come throughout a “sequence of clues” that had led them away from a “mere accident” however wouldn’t elaborate additional.
The obvious inconsistencies in his witness statements relate to him telling officers he’d left his automobile in a single place when it was present in one other space, and that he hadn’t taken images of the realm when he had.
Investigators are additionally mentioned to be counting on statements offered by Andic’s 52-year-old girlfriend, Spanish professional golfer Estefanía Knuth, who was among the many final to see him alive.
Knuth instructed authorities that “the connection between father and son was dangerous” on the time, in keeping with the sources.
No direct proof of foul play has been discovered, and Jonathan has not been arrested. Nevertheless, the contradictions in his statements, in addition to the “complicated” relationship together with his father, are mentioned to be behind the court docket’s determination to position him beneath formal investigation.
Along with Jonathan and Knuth, cops additionally interviewed Andic’s chauffeur and a neighborhood police officer who responded to the scene.
Nonetheless, a spokesperson for the Barcelona court docket insisted the case, which continues to be sealed, wasn’t directed at any specific individual.
The Andic household additionally fired off an announcement within the wake of the studies, saying they have been assured Jonathan performed no function in his father’s demise.
“The Andic household has not and won’t touch upon Isak Andic’s loss of life in all these months,” the assertion mentioned.
“Nevertheless, they want to present their respect for the continued investigations and can proceed to cooperate with the related authorities, as they’ve executed thus far. They’re additionally assured that this course of can be concluded as quickly as doable and that Jonathan Andic’s innocence can be proved.”
Andic, who based Mango in 1984, was value roughly $4.5 billion when he died – making him one in all Spain’s wealthiest individuals.
Paying tribute to him on the time, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lauded Andic for turning the Spanish model right into a “world trend chief.”
The corporate, which has 2,700 shops in 120 markets across the globe, set an organization file of three.3 billion euros ($3.8 billion) in gross sales final yr.
Jonathan Andic was appointed vice-president of Mango’s board and president of its holding firm, MNG, within the wake of his dad’s loss of life.
The late billionaire’s two daughters, Judith and Sarah, have been named as vice presidents of MNG.
In the meantime, a monetary dispute additionally erupted within the wake of Andic’s loss of life after his associate, Knuth, demanded a bit of his fortune.
Andic’s property was break up equally between his three children however Knuth, who had been courting the tycoon for six years, argued she was entitled to roughly $80 million.
That dispute continues to be ongoing.
With Publish wires
