Judge Summons 33 Witnesses in Death Investigation of Mango Founder Isak Andic

A Spanish court is moving forward with its inquiry into the death of fashion retailer Mango's founder, Isak Andic, after a judge summoned 33 witnesses to provide testimony regarding his fatal mountain fall outside Barcelona. Andic died on December 14, 2024, after plunging into a ravine while hiking in Montserrat. At the time of the incident, the retail mogul was accompanied solely by his son, Jonathan Andic, who is currently under judicial investigation on suspicion of homicide, though his legal responsibility in the death remains unestablished.

Judge Raquel Nieto has arranged the witness appearances across nine separate judicial sessions designed to meticulously reconstruct the events of that afternoon. Although the hearings were originally scheduled to begin on October 26, scheduling conflicts forced court officials to postpone the proceedings. The testimonies are now set to take place between November 10 and December 16, drawing together relatives, top corporate leaders, emergency workers, and close associates from the late businessman's inner circle.

Among the most prominent figures called before the court are several high-ranking corporate executives requested by both the prosecution and the defense. The roster includes Toni Ruiz, the executive chairman of Mango; Daniel López, a senior executive at the apparel company; and Josep Creuheras, chairman of the publishing conglomerate Grupo Planeta. All three men were appointed as executors of Andic's considerable estate, making their insights critical to understanding the businessman's affairs at the time of his death.

The judge has also called the late founder's brother, Nahman Andic, whose testimony is expected to provide prosecutors and investigators with vital perspective on family dynamics and the retail titan's closest personal relationships leading up to the tragedy. Additionally, the court will hear from Miquel Roca, a veteran lawyer and prominent former politician in Spain, whose involvement touches upon a significant component of the inquiry: a charitable foundation that Andic intended to establish shortly before his demise.

Andic had entrusted Roca with the creation of the philanthropic entity, but the project was never completed due to the billionaire's sudden passing. Judicial authorities are examining what Andic had planned for the organization and whether the launch of the foundation would have altered the broader management of his corporate assets or reshuffled how the family fortune was ultimately destined to be divided among heirs.

To shed light on the physical scene at Montserrat, the court will also question the firefighters and first responders who reported for duty on the day of the fatal fall. Furthermore, private detective Francisco Marco has been summoned after being hired by Jonathan Andic's defense team to compile expert reports on the terrain and the circumstances surrounding the drop into the ravine. Marco's analysis reportedly draws comparisons between the fatal incident and an earlier stumble Andic suffered roughly ten months prior in the lobby of Mutua Universal's headquarters in Barcelona, where another individual intervened to catch him before he struck the floor, an event recorded by building security cameras.

The defense maintains that the fatal incident in Montserrat was purely an accident, asserting that Andic suffered from severe osteoarthritis in both knees stemming from a prior ligament tear. Defense attorneys intend to introduce medical documentation from treatments administered in 2018, 2020, and 2022 to demonstrate that the retail patriarch had sought regenerative therapies to manage chronic mobility issues. As Judge Nieto prepares to hear the competing narratives throughout the coming weeks, the court aims to resolve the lingering questions surrounding the fashion icon's sudden demise while Jonathan Andic remains under active investigation.