Cristiano Ronaldo 

    As the Portuguese superstar and Real Madrid forward prepares for the kick start of the 2017/2018 football season, there are even more issues to worry about. The tax invasion case is certainly his major worry. 

Accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of 14.7 million euros between 2011 and 2014, Ronaldo has made his first appearance in  Court Number One in Pozuelo de Alarcon as he aims to prove his innocence.

The basis of his defence, as agreed upon by his agent Jorge Mendes and his lawyer Antonio Lobo Xavier, as well as the firm Baker McKenzie, will be that there was a difference of opinion with the Spanish taxman when it came to interpreting the rules

According to  financial authorities, Ronaldo “voluntarily and consciously” defrauded the Spanish taxman through three companies – Tollin, Arnel and Adifore – set up in the British Virgin Islands and only paid the relevant tax in 2014, despite having been residing in Spain since his 2009 move to Real Madrid.

On Monday, the player will attend court as someone being investigated, but if the judge finds sufficient evidence of a crime having been committed then Ronaldo will become a defendant.

If a formal accusation if filed and the judge decides to put the Portuguese through the judicial process then there will be a full trial and he could, in this case, be hit with a prison sentence – which tax agents estimate could be seven years, with the possibility of being reduced to 21 months.

By: Toh Carlson Yuh in Buea… 

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