The French actress with five Césars Isabelle Adjani was sentenced in her absence on Thursday in Paris to a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of 250,000 euros for tax evasion and money laundering.
• Also read: Tax fraud: 18 months suspended prison sentence demanded against actress Isabelle Adjani
This icon of French cinema, introduced to the public in 1974 in “La Gifle” by Claude Pinoteau when she was not yet 20 years old, was found guilty of fraudulently establishing herself in Portugal in 2016 and 2017 and a Faking a gift of $100,000, two million euros as a loan and transferring 120,000 euros through an undeclared American account.
The court underlined the “seriousness of the facts,” which led to the evasion of 236,000 euros in income tax and 1.2 million euros in real estate transfer tax. “These facts demonstrate the desire for obfuscation towards the tax administration of Isabelle Adjani” and “seriously undermine the equality of citizens before taxes and therefore the republican compact,” declared the president.
“As an actress of undeniable talent, she is no less a taxpayer,” she also said.
His lawyers said they were “shocked” by the decision.
“If Isabelle Adjani, who has always maintained her innocence, does not ask to be judged better than other litigants given her fame, there is no reason to judge her less favorably,” explained Me Olivier Pardo, one of his lawyers. “Therefore, with confidence and determination, we will urge him to file an appeal immediately.”
The trial on October 19th took place without the actress, who is particularly known for her roles in “The Murderous Summer” (1983), “Camille Claudel” (1988), “La Reine Margot” (1994) and most recently “Mascarade” (2022 ) is known. , but also a singer whose hit “Pull marine”, written with Serge Gainsbourg, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
While she was in the United States, her defense requested that the hearing be postponed, citing in particular an “acute pathology.” However, the court rejected this request, saying it doubted her “real intention” to appear as a lawyer.
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) had requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 250,000 euros as well as a two-year suspension of civil rights.