Isabelle Adjani: Sentenced to prison for tax evasion and money laundering

Isabelle Adjani was convicted of tax evasion and money laundering, a decision that the 68-year-old actress will appeal.

The court found Isabelle Ajani guilty of all charges against her relating to the period from 2013 to 2017. She was sentenced A two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 250,000 euros.

The investigation against her began in 2016, when her name appeared in the Panama Papers list, according to which she owned a company in the British Virgin Islands.

With its decision, the court overcame the prosecution’s proposal, which requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence, a fine of 250,000 euros, and a two-year ban on exercising civil rights.

Isabelle Adjani: Charges and court decision

The court’s decision referred to the facts proving Isabelle Adjani’s desire to hide from the tax authorities and “To undermine the equality of citizens before taxes».

According to the court’s decision, the actress – who was honored with five Cesar Awards – stated that she lived in Portugal in 2016 and 2017, in order to… Failure to pay income tax of €236.00.

He was also convicted of transferring two million euros in 2013 by Mamadou Diana Diah, a powerful businessman and friend of the actress, who is president of the Senegalese Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee.

This amount, according to the court, was declared as a loan, but it was in fact a “disguised donation.” This move allowed Isabelle Adjani – who was facing financial difficulties at the time – to evade the donation tax of 1.2 million euros, and the actress was finally sentenced. Guilty of money launderingHe transferred 119 thousand euros to Portugal from an account in the United States that he did not disclose.

Isabel Ajani did not attend the trial because she was in the United States. Even Mamadou Diana Diaye, who was called as a witness, did not go to court. The actress’s defense requested that the hearing be postponed due to her illness. But the court rejected the request and cast doubt on Isabelle Ajani’s true intention to testify.

“If Isabelle Adjani, who continues to proclaim her innocence, does not ask, given her reputation, to be judged better than other citizens, there is no reason to judge her less well, with no less rights,” the actress’s lawyer said. “, Olivier Pardot.

According to the defense of actress Isabelle Adjani She made a “mistake” on her tax returnWhile living in Portugal, because she received “bad advice”. As for the amount transferred by Diana Dia, the lawyers pointed to the good faith of 68-year-old Diana, as she signed a “loan agreement under the supervision of a lawyer specializing in taxes.”

With information from APE/AFP