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Student Spins Double Life Among Spanish Elite Student Spins Double Life Among Spanish Elite
(about 7 hours later)
MADRID — How is it that a baby-faced, 20-year-old university student skates his way into the coronation celebration of the new king, passes himself off as a government adviser to reportedly broker a lucrative business deal, and avoids traffic jams by flashing a fake police light? MADRID — How is it that a baby-faced, 20-year-old university student skates his way into the coronation celebration of the new king, passes himself off as a government adviser to reportedly broker a lucrative business deal, and avoids traffic jams by flashing a fake police light?
That is the question members of Spain’s security services are asking themselves after the student, Francisco Nicolás Gómez Iglesias, was arrested last week and quickly gained prominence as the country’s most notorious gate-crasher.That is the question members of Spain’s security services are asking themselves after the student, Francisco Nicolás Gómez Iglesias, was arrested last week and quickly gained prominence as the country’s most notorious gate-crasher.
The answer, disturbingly enough, is that he did it by falsifying police and secret service documents and pretending to hold several government and other official posts, Spain’s national police say.The answer, disturbingly enough, is that he did it by falsifying police and secret service documents and pretending to hold several government and other official posts, Spain’s national police say.
The judge in charge of the case, Mercedes Pérez Barrios, was as incredulous as many other Spaniards at the extent of Mr. Gómez Iglesias’s double life. In her report, she wrote that she could “not understand how a young person of 20, using only his word and apparently under his own identity, could have access to conferences, places and events without his behavior alarming anybody.”The judge in charge of the case, Mercedes Pérez Barrios, was as incredulous as many other Spaniards at the extent of Mr. Gómez Iglesias’s double life. In her report, she wrote that she could “not understand how a young person of 20, using only his word and apparently under his own identity, could have access to conferences, places and events without his behavior alarming anybody.”
Mr. Gómez Iglesias’s arrest has generated a debate over security lapses in Spain, a country that only recently emerged from decades of assassinations and bombings by ETA, the Basque separatist group. It has also highlighted the importance of personal connections in Spain’s establishment, as Mr. Gómez Iglesias allegedly used a secretary of state to gain access to top business executives.Mr. Gómez Iglesias’s arrest has generated a debate over security lapses in Spain, a country that only recently emerged from decades of assassinations and bombings by ETA, the Basque separatist group. It has also highlighted the importance of personal connections in Spain’s establishment, as Mr. Gómez Iglesias allegedly used a secretary of state to gain access to top business executives.
One of the most worrying security breaches occurred on June 19, when Mr. Gómez Iglesias was among the invitees at the royal palace who shook the hand of the new king, Felipe VI.One of the most worrying security breaches occurred on June 19, when Mr. Gómez Iglesias was among the invitees at the royal palace who shook the hand of the new king, Felipe VI.
Catalina Hoffmann, a businesswoman who stood alongside Mr. Gómez Iglesias when he met the king, on Monday denied reports that she had added him to the guest list.Catalina Hoffmann, a businesswoman who stood alongside Mr. Gómez Iglesias when he met the king, on Monday denied reports that she had added him to the guest list.
Mr. Gómez Iglesias, known to his friends as Frankie, has been called “Little Nicolás” by the Spanish news media, in reference to a series of French novels about a mischievous schoolboy.Mr. Gómez Iglesias, known to his friends as Frankie, has been called “Little Nicolás” by the Spanish news media, in reference to a series of French novels about a mischievous schoolboy.
Mr. Gómez Iglesias could not be reached for comment and has made no public statement since his release from custody last Friday, pending a trial. Spanish news media reported that his family was shocked by the arrest, claiming that he had somehow been set up.Mr. Gómez Iglesias could not be reached for comment and has made no public statement since his release from custody last Friday, pending a trial. Spanish news media reported that his family was shocked by the arrest, claiming that he had somehow been set up.
With his innocent looks and preppy clothing, Mr. Gómez Iglesias looks every bit the model student, and indeed, he has been studying at the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros, or CUNEF, one of Madrid’s top finance universities.With his innocent looks and preppy clothing, Mr. Gómez Iglesias looks every bit the model student, and indeed, he has been studying at the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros, or CUNEF, one of Madrid’s top finance universities.
But rather than spending most of his time on university benches, Mr. Gómez Iglesias preferred to lunch with top business executives and politicians, even joining them in the V.I.P. box of the Real Madrid soccer team’s Bernabéu stadium. He also moonlighted as an adviser to the government, and sometimes as an agent of the secret service, according to El Confidencial, a Spanish publication that reported the case. He also managed to receive 25,000 euros, or about $32,000, from a businessman in return for helping facilitate a property deal, acting as a government adviser, according to the judge’s report.But rather than spending most of his time on university benches, Mr. Gómez Iglesias preferred to lunch with top business executives and politicians, even joining them in the V.I.P. box of the Real Madrid soccer team’s Bernabéu stadium. He also moonlighted as an adviser to the government, and sometimes as an agent of the secret service, according to El Confidencial, a Spanish publication that reported the case. He also managed to receive 25,000 euros, or about $32,000, from a businessman in return for helping facilitate a property deal, acting as a government adviser, according to the judge’s report.
To add credibility to his parallel life, Mr. Gómez Iglesias sometimes hired chauffeur-driven cars when he was not, according to Spanish media reports, using fake police-car lights and registration plates.To add credibility to his parallel life, Mr. Gómez Iglesias sometimes hired chauffeur-driven cars when he was not, according to Spanish media reports, using fake police-car lights and registration plates.
Mr. Gómez Iglesias is believed to have used his acquaintance with Jaime García-Legaz, the Spanish secretary of state for trade and a former professor at CUNEF, to grease his way into the ranks of Spain’s conservative elite.Mr. Gómez Iglesias is believed to have used his acquaintance with Jaime García-Legaz, the Spanish secretary of state for trade and a former professor at CUNEF, to grease his way into the ranks of Spain’s conservative elite.
Mr. García-Legaz has acknowledged knowing him, but told El Confidencial that he had cut off their relationship a year and a half ago after being informed by a friend that the student had used him as a reference to gain access to business executives.Mr. García-Legaz has acknowledged knowing him, but told El Confidencial that he had cut off their relationship a year and a half ago after being informed by a friend that the student had used him as a reference to gain access to business executives.
Mr. Gómez Iglesias’s gate-crashing exploits came to an end when he tried unsuccessfully to attend a party at the American Embassy, as well as further his relationship with Spain’s royal household, according to Spanish media reports. The Spanish police then started investigating, leading to his arrest last week.Mr. Gómez Iglesias’s gate-crashing exploits came to an end when he tried unsuccessfully to attend a party at the American Embassy, as well as further his relationship with Spain’s royal household, according to Spanish media reports. The Spanish police then started investigating, leading to his arrest last week.