The Japan Times - Mango founder's son says accusation he killed his father 'unfounded'

Andic called the allegation "serious, unjust and unfounded", in an open letter to staff published on Tuesday announcing that he will step down as vice president of the fashion giant's board to focus on his legal defence.

"A public narrative has been created based on a view that is biased, distorted and taken out of context, which has created a perception of guilt that has nothing to do with reality," Andic, 45, said in the letter, his first public comment on the case.

"I make this decision sadly, but convinced that it is what's best for the company and for me... I need to concentrate all my energy on demonstrating my innocence."

Andic was hiking with his 71-year-old billionaire father, Isak Andic, in the Montserrat mountains near Barcelona when the Mango founder plunged to his death on December 14, 2024.

Investigators initially treated the death as an accident, but prosecutors reopened the investigation in October 2025, zeroing in on Jonathan Andic.

He was arrested a week ago, then released after posting bail of one million euros ($1.2 million).

- 'Bad relationship' -

The presiding judge said in her bail decision that the allegedly "bad relationship" between father and son, driven by Jonathan Andic's "obsession... with money", was part of the evidence presented by investigators.

In his letter, Andic said the "deeply painful" death of his father had been made worse by having to deal with "the most serious, unjust and unfounded accusation a person can face".

"I have always deeply loved my family, and especially my father," he said.

"We also had difficult and complicated moments, which we overcame with great effort, generosity and help."

Born in Istanbul, Isak Andic moved with his family to Barcelona from Turkey as a teenager in the late 1960s.

He opened his first Mango shop in 1984 with the help of his older brother Nahman, and quickly built the company into one of the world's leading fashion groups.

K.Yoshida--JT