Pujol Family Tax Advisor Testifies on 2014 Andorra Accounts Revelation

Josep Anton Sánchez Carreté, a former tax advisor to the Pujol family, testified Monday at Spain's National Court that he first learned of their Andorra accounts in 2014, when former Catalan president Jordi Pujol publicly admitted to the undeclared funds. This revelation came under mounting pressure from Spain's tax authority, leading Pujol's children—through lawyer Xavier Melero—to instruct him urgently on 7 July 2014 to regularise foreign holdings "rushed and hastily." That day coincided with media reports revealing banking movements at Banca Privada d'Andorra involving Marta Ferrusola and four of her children.

The account emerged during the resumed trial of Jordi Pujol and his seven children, charged over the origins of their hidden wealth. Sánchez Carreté, who had provided fiscal advice to Pujol since 1983 and helped much of the family file supplementary tax returns, stressed his firm did not manage eldest son Jordi Pujol Ferrusola's bookkeeping or scrutinise whether his income stemmed from legitimate services or concealed public works commissions. For the son, work covered only wealth and corporate tax filings, plus guidance on deductible expenses.

Sánchez Carreté met that July day with lawyers Melero and Albert Carrillo, plus nearly all family members except Pujol and Pujol Ferrusola. Marta Ferrusola attended, though her husband did not. Initial banking records were incomplete, so he sought more details in following months—including Andorran data from 2008—delivered via USB by the lawyers. This material surfaced in a 2015 court search of his office, which prosecutors deem vital evidence. The defence challenges its admissibility, arguing the judge permitted access solely to Pujol Ferrusola and his ex-wife's information. Sánchez Carreté could not fully track all accounts and inflows, advising an external auditor. He denied awareness of any foundations' ledgers or transfers from Andorra to destinations including the UK, Switzerland, Denmark or Argentina.

Other witnesses included Jordi Puig, a former Pujol Ferrusola associate and brother of ex-Catalan councillor Felip Puig, who acknowledged billing him 102 million pesetas without contracts, alongside businessman Salvador Heras and others confirming business ties but lacking formal invoice support. Prosecutors allege these masked illegal commissions and money laundering.

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

The proceedings centre on assertions that the family's wealth arose from concealed Andorran holdings, regularised only after public exposure.