Lakis Gavalas gets second suspended sentence for tax evasion

An Athens misdemeanors court on Friday passed down a five-year suspended prison sentence to fashion entrepreneur Lakis Gavalas after finding him guilty of tax evasion for 2012 to the tune of 1.5 million euros.

Gavalas, who was not present in court, was given the suspended sentence after the judge decided to show leniency and not adopt a proposal by the prosecution for the sentence to apply immediately.

Gavalas’ lawyer said he respected the court’s decision but found it inexplicable. «Instead of Greek justice relentlessly chasing Lakis Gavalas, it can rise to the occasion and help him fulfill his commitments to the Greek state as quickly as possible,» Yiannis Pagoropoulos said.

Gavalas was last month given a seven-year suspended sentence in connection with another unpaid tax bill of some 17 million euros to the state. The businessman offered to transfer his company’s eastern Attica headquarters to the state in exchange for a writeoff of its debts.