Isak Andic: Spanish police probing death of billionaire Mango clothing titan as homicide

Spanish police have launched a homicide investigation into the sudden death of Isak Andic, the billionaire founder of global fashion giant Mango, with his son emerging as the prime suspect.

Andic, 71, who founded one of Europe’s largest fashion groups with around 2800 stores worldwide, plunged 150m to his death while hiking in mountains outside Barcelona in December last year to widespread shock.

Police in the northeastern region of Catalonia have now shifted their probe from an accident to a possible homicide centring on his son Jonathan Andic, El Pais daily said, citing “different sources with knowledge of the investigation”.

Jonathan, who was the only person with his father at the time of the incident, has provided “inconsistent” testimony in two declarations that has “fuelled suspicion”, El Pais said.

“The witness contradicted himself, left grey areas and described events that did not match up” with the Catalan police’s inspection of the scene in the Montserrat mountains, the newspaper added.

Another testimony by Estefania Knuth, a professional golfer who was Isak Andic’s partner, highlighted “the poor relations between father and son”, El Pais said.

Barcelona-based daily La Vanguardia, also citing “sources with knowledge of the investigation”, said the investigating judge formally changed Jonathan Andic’s status from witness to suspect in late September and that police were combing through the contents of his mobile phone.

The family “is confident that this process will finish as soon as possible and that Jonathan Andic’s innocence will be demonstrated”, according to their spokespeople cited by El Pais.

Catalan police were unavailable for comment.

Istanbul-born Isak Andic was one of Spain’s richest people, with Forbes estimating his and his family’s fortune at $US4.5 billion.

Mr Andic was exploring the Montserrat caves when the tragedy occurred. Specialised crews and a rescue helicopter raced to the area, however Mr Andic was discovered dead.

Andic opened his first shop in Barcelona in 1984. His Mango brand quickly mushroomed across Spain and became one of the world’s leading fashion groups. Kate Moss the face of Mango in 2011 and there are stores in more than 100 countries.

The company offers both professional and casual styles and boasts a presence in more than 120 markets with more than 16,400 employees worldwide, according to its website.

Mr Andic was still involved with the company when he died, working as the non-executive chairman of Mango.