Opera star pays tax to avoid trial

Opera singer Monserrat Caballé has now paid the remaining €200,000 she owed the Spanish Tax Agency in outstanding income tax, according to judicial sources.

Caballé, 81, who has been under investigation for tax fraud, has now handed over a total of €500,000 to tax authorities, which is the full amount they had been originally requesting.

Caballé has maintained her innocence over the fraud charges. The Catalan star’s defence is trying to reach an agreement to avoid the case going to trial, or to at least have the payment recognized as a mitigating circumstance.

Reportedly, a fortnight ago a judge visited Caballé at her apartment in Barcelona to take her statement. The soprano is suffering from mobility problems and was allowed to speak to the magistrate from her home.

Allegedly, Caballé told the judge that in 2010 she was an Andorra resident and only went to Barcelona to visit her doctor.

The case against the singer is that she undertook a series of musical performances in Europe through a company based in the principality, which allowed her to avoid paying income tax.

Caballé explained to the judge that the adviser who had suggested the tax setup died three years ago.

As well as repaying the outstanding tax owed, the opera star also faces a fine of up to six times the defrauded amount.

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