Start of trial
This Tuesday the trial of the renowned actors Imanol Arias and Ana Duato begins at the National Court. Both are accused of hiding from the Treasury 2.7 and 1.9 million euros, respectively, of their earnings from their participation in the successful series ‘Cuéntame como paso’.
The alleged fraud would have been carried out through shell companies created by the Nummaria law firm. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office requests 32 years in prison for Ana Duato and 27 years for Imanol Arias, for committing 7 and 6 tax crimes, respectively.
El papel de Nummaria
According to the accusation by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the Nummaria law firm would have created opaque corporate structures to avoid paying taxes in Spain. These structures would have been used by many clients of the firm, including actors Imanol Arias and Ana Duato, to hide their profits and benefit from illegitimate tax credits.
Lawyer Fernando Peña, head of Nummaria, is accused of leading the criminal organization that carried out the fraud. The Prosecutor’s Office requests the highest sentence for him, 298 years in prison.
Trial schedule
According to a provisional calendar drawn up by the court, the oral hearing is expected to last until September, with approximately 24 sessions.
Returns and agreements
Some of the defendants have returned part of the defrauded money and have reached agreements with the Prosecutor’s Office to obtain lighter sentences. These agreements are based on reparation for damage and confession of the facts.
Actors’ postures
Imanol Arias has chosen to reach an agreement with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, recognizing the tax crimes attributed to him. For her part, Ana Duato has decided not to acknowledge anything and maintains that there are errors in her accusation. In an interview before the trial, Ella Duato stated: ‘I am convinced of my innocence. Conformity would imply that I lie and assume facts that I have not committed.’
