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Tax Fraud: Spanish prosecutors seek two years prison term for Neymar
Tax Fraud: Barcelona’s Neymar is in grave danger as Spanish prosecutors found his transfer illegal
Barcelona striker Neymar is in grave danger as he is found guilty of tax fraud. Spanish prosecutors are seeking two-year prison sentence and 10 million euro fine for the Brazil national on corruption charges because of alleged irregularities during his transfer from Brazil club Santos to Barcelona.
Prosecutors said on Wednesday that they are seeking the same punishment for Neymar’s father and former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who is facing another three years for fraud charges.
They are all set to trial after a complaint brought by Brazilian investment group DIS, which was entitled to 40 per cent of Neymar’s transfer from Santos in 2013 but said it received a smaller compensation because part of the transfer fee was canceled.
In July this year, Barcelona attacking midfielder Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Messi were sentenced to 21 months of a sentence for tax fraud, but they were not sent to jail because sentences less than two years for a first offense are usually suspended in Spain.
DIS has demanded a five-year prison sentence for Messi’s colleague Neymar and his parents, and eight-year sentence for Rosell and current Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu. It also seeks fine of 200 million euros from Barcelona and wants to be temporarily suspended from playing if he found guilty.
A Spanish judge accepted charges against Bartomeu, but prosecutors spared him on Wednesday, saying he did not directly participate in the negotiations related to Neymar’s transfer. The judge also accepts charges against Barcelona, Santos and a former president of the Brazilian club, Odilo Rodrigues.
The Santos president will face a three-year prison sentence, while prosecutors seek a fine of 8.4 million from Barcelona and 7 million from Santos.
Prosecutors also said that Rosell, Rodrigues, Barcelona and Santos must repay nearly 3 million Euro to DIS. Prosecutors also want one –year prison sentence and 10 million euros for Neymar’s mother, who co-owns one of her husband’s companies representing Neymar. Prosecutors also want the company pay fine of 1.3 million euros.
Meanwhile, Neymar’s father, who is his agent, appeared in Madrid court in February to defend themselves. All other parties being accused by prosecutors also have denied wrongdoing.
This year in the month of June Barcelona paid a fine of 5.5 million euros in a separate case after acknowledging to tax authorities they made “an error in the fiscal planning of the player’s transfer.” Earlier the national court shelved the complaint made by Brazilian investment foundation, but the decision was appealed and a group of judges eventually ruled that there was enough evidence to keep the case open.
Barcelona said the price of Neymar’s transfer was €57.1m, with Santos receiving €17.1m. Prosecutors said the total amount paid by the Spanish club to Santos was €25.1m, meaning DIS would be entitled to an additional €3.2m.
When Neymar joined Barcelona the Blaugrana side Barcelona revealed the amount of transfer as 57.1 million Euro. Prosecutors said the differences come from payments made by Barcelona for the future acquisitions of other players, as well as a partnership for friendly matches between the clubs. DIS paid about €1.4m for its 40 percent of Neymar’s rights in 2009.
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