Lionel Messi and his father were sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax evasion
Football star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax evasion, Catalan-based newspaper El Periodico says.
In a recent trial at the Gava District Court in Barcelona, Messi was sentenced to 21 months in prison for evading 4.1 million euros in taxes between 2007 and 2009. Jorge Messi, the soccer superstar's father, also received a similar sentence.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the Messi family had avoided paying income tax in Spain by funneling the money into shell companies set up in Uruguay and Belize, places considered tax havens.
Meanwhile, Messi still insists that he “knows nothing” about his family's financial activities, including the huge amount of money he earns.
According to Bongdaplus
