Lionel Messi will have to stand trial for tax fraud after the state lawyer representing Spain’s Inland Revenue successfully argued that both the player’s father Jorge Horracio and the player himself should be called to take the stand.
Messi’s father has always maintained his son plays no part in the management of his money but that will now be decided by a judge with Messi called to give evidence in a court case for which a date has still not been set.
The state lawyer has called for sentences of 22 months for both Messi and his father although even in the case of both men being found guilty the sentence is likely to be suspended in view of it being a first offence.The pair are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on €4.16million (£2.72m) of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights during the tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
During the three years in question Messi signed contracts with Banc Sabadell, Telefonica, Danone, Air Europa, Adidas and Pepsi for the combined sum of €10m (£7.3m) but no tax in Spain was originally paid on them.
The Messi family had an appeal to try only father Jorge turned down last October. They claimed that Messi left all commercial business to his father and had not dedicated ‘even a minute’ of his life to reading or analysing it.
The Messi’s have since cleared their tax debt which will reduce any subsequent sentence.
The appeal was over-turned in a statement that read:
‘In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to them.’
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I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 8-10-2015 09:41 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
allenspike at 8-10-2015 10:28 PM (9 years ago) (m)
I don't know why messi has been averting paying taxes,he should know that haters are conspiring against him, any slight blooper can blot out his Name..
spain hungry country.crisis wan finish them,no source of income thats why they depend so much on tax and fine.ni wetin them do SAMUEL ETO too when he commont from barcelona,as them hear how much FC ANZHI sign am,them go open him old file say him dorge tax,make him come pay millions or go to jail.
Posted: at 8-10-2015 11:40 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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