First, founder Isak Andic’s loved ones were sent into mourning in December 2024 when he set out for a hike north-west of Barcelona and ended up dead at the bottom of a 100-metre cliff.
Then on Tuesday morning, son Jonathan Andic, who was the only witness to his father’s death, was arrested for alleged homicide in connection with a renewed investigation.
The 45-year-old who was at one point chairman of the board of directors of his father’s empire wore handcuffs, a dark jacket and polo shirt and walked with his head bowed as he arrived at a Barcelona court following questioning.
By the afternoon, he posted bail of €1 million ($1.63 million), an impressive figure that’s just 0.022 per cent of the more than $US4.5 billion Forbes estimated his father was worth when he died.
A family spokesperson said Jonathan’s family was confident of his innocence, confirming he was being questioned by investigators but declining to provide details. The probe remained under seal, a police spokesperson said.
Police opened an investigation into the death of Isak, 71, after his death but closed it a few weeks later. It was reopened in March 2025 and in October police confirmed the death was being investigated as a possible homicide.
While dwarfed by fierce rival Zara, Mango booked record revenue of €3.8 billion ($6.2 billion) in 2025 and is a fast-fashion behemoth with 2900 stores in 120 markets.
Isak moved from Istanbul to Barcelona with his family when he was 14. He opened Mango’s first store in Barcelona in 1984 and over the following decades helped it grow into one of Europe’s leading fast fashion makers.
According to El País, Isak was proud of Jonathan’s work leading the Mango Man line from its early days but his son’s four years in charge of Mango itself was marked by massive losses and a lack of clear direction, forcing him to cut short his sabbatical and return in 2019.
Jonathan and his two sisters jointly own 95 per cent of Mango, with 5 per owned by Toni Ruiz, who has been its CEO and president since 2023 after replacing Jonathan in control.
Anonymous sources told the newspaper that the replacement caused a rift between Jonathan and his father but others said their relationship was “good” at the time of his death.
9News.com.au doesn’t suggest any reported issues with the pair’s relationship is linked to any possible police allegations.
A lawyer for Jonathan Andic was not immediately available for comment.
The father and son’s final hike was near the Salnitre Caves in Collbató, about 35 kilometres from Barcelona, on December 14, 2024.
El Mundo reports they hiked the section known as Les Feixades, which was characterised by shifting gravel and unstable rocks, narrowing in parts to 90 centimetres flanked by unprotected drops.
Isak reportedly fell to his death on the return, just metres from the car park, and Jonathan said he heard a noise before seeing his father fall.
On Tuesday, Jonathan was taken to a court in Martorell, a city in eastern Spain, where the case is being investigated. After answering questions from his lawyer, the judge set bail which was posted shortly afterward, the court said.
– Reported with Associated Press and Reuters
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