Pujol Family Tax Advisor Testifies on Late Discovery of Andorra Holdings

Josep Anton Sánchez Carreté, a former tax advisor to the Pujol family, testified on Monday at Spain's National Court that he learned of their Andorra holdings only in 2014, when former Catalan president Jordi Pujol publicly acknowledged them. This came amid heightened pressure from Spain's tax agency, prompting urgent instructions from Pujol's children—via lawyer Xavier Melero—to regularise foreign funds on 7 July 2014, the same day media reports exposed banking activity at Banca Privada d'Andorra.

The testimony formed part of the resumed trial against Pujol and his seven children, facing charges over the origins of their undeclared wealth. Sánchez Carreté, who had advised Pujol fiscally since 1983 and assisted much of the family with supplementary tax declarations, clarified that his firm handled neither Jordi Pujol Ferrusola's bookkeeping nor checks on whether his income reflected genuine services or masked irregular public works commissions. For the eldest son, services were limited to wealth and corporate tax returns, plus fiscal advice on deductible expenses—not full accounting.

That July day, Sánchez Carreté met with lawyers Melero and Albert Carrillo, plus nearly all family members except Pujol and Pujol Ferrusola. Marta Ferrusola attended, but her husband and the eldest son did not. Initial banking documents were partial, so he requested more in subsequent months—including Andorran records from 2008—to verify the filings. This material arrived via USB from the lawyers and was later found during a 2015 court-ordered search of his office. Prosecutors view it as key evidence, though the defence seeks its nullification, claiming the judge authorised access only to Pujol Ferrusola and his ex-wife's information. Sánchez Carreté could not fully trace all accounts and inflows, recommending an external auditor instead. He denied knowledge of any foundations' accounting or transfers from Andorra to places like the UK, Switzerland, Denmark or Argentina.

Other witnesses, including Jordi Puig—a former Pujol Ferrusola associate and brother of ex-Catalan councillor Felip Puig—and businessman Salvador Heras, confirmed commercial links with the eldest son but offered no formal paperwork for related invoices. Prosecutors suspect these hid illegal commissions and money laundering.

Only five of eight scheduled witnesses testified, all by video link, with Pujol Ferrusola and one defendant present. Some 20 more are due from Tuesday to Thursday.

The case focuses on claims the family's assets derived from concealed holdings, with regularisation following public scrutiny of their Andorran accounts.