Messi pleads Ignorance at tax fruad trial

By Daily Sports on June 3, 2016

Football superstar Lionel Messi pleaded ignorance at his tax fraud trial in Barcelona on Thursday, according to Spanish media reports.

Messi and his father stand accused of dodging more than €4.1 million ($4.6 million) worth of taxes.

Local media outlet El Pais quoted Messi as telling the courtroom in Spanish: “I just played football. I signed the contracts because I trusted my dad and in no moment did it pass through my head that he would trick me.”

Messi’s testimony lasted around 15 minutes. He only answered questions from his lawyer and gave short answers, reiterating that he had “no idea” of what happened to his earnings.

The footballer and his father Jorge Messi face up to 22 months in prison and fines for allegedly using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to hide his earnings from the Spanish government between 2007 and 2009.

Jorge Messi denied the charges in court and blamed his lawyers and advisers since, he claimed, he knew only the “basic Chinese” of economic and legal matters.

“I was just in charge of going once in a while or calling because I didn’t understand any of it,” he said, according to El Pais.

The court is expected to make a decision sometime next week. Even if found guilty, the Spanish media pointed out that it was unlikely that Messi would spend time in prison because Spanish courts tend to reduce or drop prison-time for first time offenders.

Although not related to this trial, Messi was also named in the Panama Papers, which refers to large number documents that revealed prominent personalities worldwide with offshore companies.

Spanish media alleged that the Panama Papers showed that Messi had “set up a tax fraud network.”

El Confidential, an online news source, published documents showing that Messi had set up an offshore company, Mega Star Enterprises, the day after he was indicted for dodging taxes by Spanish authorities in June 2013.

In 2013, when the formal investigation began, Messi and his father made a voluntary €5 million ($5.6 million) payment to the Spanish tax authorities as a “corrective” measure.

Messi is the world’s fourth-highest paid athlete, and in 2015 earned $73.8 million between contracts and endorsements, according to Forbes.

Messi, Argentinian-born, has lived in Barcelona since 2000 and has been a Spanish citizen since 2005.

• Culled from Anadoly Agency. Photo shows Messi in trial.

 

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 3, 2016


 

You may also like...
Sports, Best Performing Ministry under Buhari — Dalung...

Gulati to step down after World Cup miss...

Ronaldo ‘Violated’ Covid Protocol — Italian Sports Minister...

Falconets are not fully prepared for U20 Women's...

Eagles’ ‘late response’ to camp worries Nigerians

Blame Pinnick for Eagles W’Cup absence – Rohr...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,389 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,398 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,545 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,219 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,004 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,882 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,768 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,223 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,272 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,183 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,633 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,208 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media