Judge Mascherano admits to having defrauded 1.5 million

The Argentine player Javier Mascherano has admitted Barcelona on Thursday, in court, defrauding 1.5 million euros for the years 2011 and 2012.

Accompanied by his lawyer, David Aineto, Barca defender has appeared in the magistrate No. 9 Gava (Barcelona) to testify as a
defendant of two counts of tax fraud, which has acknowledged having committed.

Therefore, it was not necessary for the judge Erika Lopez, nor the prosecutor and the State lawyer, interrogated the player, a few weeks ago and returned defrauded 1.5 million euros, plus another 200,000 euros of interest.

Treasury specifically complains to Mascherano 587,822 euros for fiscal 2011, and another 968,907 euros in 2012, years in which already resided in Spain.

According to prosecutors, the player used two strategies for this alleged fraud: not declaring income derived Nike through a company established in Miami (United States) and simulate the transfer of their rights to a purely instrumental entity based in Madeira (Portugal).

Although admitting the facts, the judicial process must now take its course: Judge Erika Lopez close the instruction in the next days and shall issue an order opening trial.

Javier Mascherano, who has gone with a straight face and without comment on leaving the court, facing sentences of 1-5 years for each tax offense and a fine of up to sixfold the amount disappoint.

However, it is more than likely not the case comes to trial and that a plea bargain between the parties is made, as the player has admitted the two offenses, returned the defrauded amount and could have agreed with prosecutors the amount of the fine to be paid.