Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have both been sentenced to 21 months in prison on tax fraud charges. The Barcelona and Argentina star and his father were also fined, but are unlikely to go to jail under Spanish law. Spanish newspaper 'La Vanguardia' reported on Wednesday that Messi, who recently retired from international football, and his father Jorge can appeal the decision through the Spanish Supreme Court. The pair are were both found guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a statement from the court said on Wednesday. The Barcelona forward, 29, was fined about 2 million euros while his father received a fine of about 1.5 million euros. Under Spanish law, any sentence under two years can be served under probation meaning the superstar and his father are unlikely to go to jail. The pair were found to have used a number of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on just over 4 million euros worth of income earned through the sale of Messi's image rights between 2007 and 2009. The five time Ballon d'Or winner, 29, denied any wrongdoing when he appeared before the court on June 2: "I don't know anything," Messi said. "I only worried about playing football."
"All I knew was that we signed agreements with certain sponsors for 'X' amount of money and that I had to do advertisements, photos and those things but about the money and where it went I knew nothing." The court said said this was not enough for him to avoid charges. Messi and his father had already paid 5 million euros to the tax authorities as a "corrective" measure after formal investigations were opened. Messi's testimony came before he played for his country in the Copa America, where they lost to Chile in the final, with Messi missing a penalty in the shootout. He retired from the international stage shortly after. Reuters/AFP The roadworks drilling and construction for the reinstallation of the ex-Leader of Tunisia Habib Bourguiba as the street name has given for his glorious name which is still until today very known globally. The first president who passed away since decade, has left back to him a lot of criticism even after his death... Last May 3rd, the the statue was lifted from the entrance of the city of La Gouluette after its removal completely from the center of the capital Avenue Habib Bourguiba on the end of 1987 as announced by the Ministry of Equipment, viz before the rule of the former president until 2011, January 14th. The street works were started for about a month ago or more from the writing of this blog post and the official inauguration will be announced for this new monument the next June 1st at the occasion of the memory of the late leader's return from exile in 1955 to Tunisia, as this was known during the long stage victory of the Bourguibism in that time. It is noteworthy that the Presidency has decided to restore the monument to the famous streets of the capital to rehabilitate the Leader Habib Bourguiba, the first president of the Republic of Tunisia and the leader of the fight for independence. Video by ShemsFM Tunisia's local radio station: |
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