Lionel Messi, father sentenced for tax fraud by Spanish court
Barcelona, July 6 (IANS) A Spanish court on Wednesday sentenced FC Barcelona's Argentine football star Lionel Messi and his father to a prison term for tax fraud committed between 2007 and 2009.
The Barcelona Provincial Court ruled that Messi and his father, Jorge Messi, had committed three counts of tax fraud that were punishable with 21 months (one year and 9 months) in prison, reports Efe.
In Spanish law, it is not mandatory for a first offender to go to prison if the sentence is under two years.
The sentence can be appealed before the Spanish Supreme Court.
--IANS
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