A Spanish court decided Thursday that the king's brother-in-law, who was handed six years and three months jail for syphoning off millions, will remain free without bail as he prepares to appeal.

The court in Palma de Majorca in the Balearic Islands also ruled that Inaki Urdangarin, whose involvement in a corruption case that outraged Spain, could stay in Switzerland where he currently resides until all possible appeals are exhausted.

It went against the wishes of prosecutors, who had asked that he be allowed to remain temporarily free on condition that he post bail of 200,000 euros.