Lionel Messi handed jail term in Spain for tax fraud

[ian1964 10,720]

Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud.

 

His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.

 

They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights.

 

However, neither man is expected to serve time in jail.

 

Under the Spanish system, prison terms of under two years can be served under probation.

 

The footballer and his father were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud in Wednesday's ruling by the court in Barcelona.

 

As well as the jail terms, Messi was fined about €2m and his father €1.5m. They made a voluntary €5m "corrective payment", equal to the alleged unpaid tax plus interest, in August 2013.

 

The sentence can be appealed through the Spanish supreme court.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36721892

[Billy Bones 2]

I assume he'll still be allowed to play, though perhaps not leave the country.

[pete 2,499]

Spanish law is crazy in some situations. The pickpockets of Barcelona are renowned. The law states if they have not stolen over 400 euro's then there is a mandatory fine of 26 euro's. The pickpockets happily accept their fine and move on to the next customer.