Francisco Nicolas Gomez Iglesias cons Spanish elite from the king down
Authorities are amazed and embarrassed at the feats of 'Little Nicholas'
Police in Spain have arrested an alleged con man, aged 20, who embarrassed the establishment by posing as a VIP and even had himself photographed shaking hands with the king.
Fresh-faced and curly-haired, the sharp-suited wheeler-dealer Francisco Nicolas Gomez Iglesias, known as "Little Nicholas", has appeared in photos in the press alongside a string of top political figures.
His crowning exploit was to sneak uninvited into a reception for the proclamation of King Felipe VI in June, when he was photographed in suit and tie, bowing and shaking the monarch's hand.
Police arrested "Little Nicholas" last week, accusing him of passing himself off as a government adviser and asking a top businessman for a €25,000 (HK$245,000) commission to act as a go-between in a real-estate deal.
One person who had dealings with the suspect, Miguel Bernad of the far-right pressure group Manos Limpias, said Gomez had held a dozen meetings with him posing as a representative of the royal palace.
He said Gomez offered to mediate in a legal action the association is waging against the king's sister, Cristina.