Swiss winemaker Dominique Giroud has been convicted of tax fraud, but his spokesperson said the verdict 'does not come as a surprise'.
Giroud was found guilty by a court in the Swiss canton of Vaud late last week. He was accused of providing false figures on his company, Giroud Vins, to tax authorities between 2005 and 2009.
The court fined him CHF300 per day for 180 days, which totals CHF54,000 (£35,000, $60,000), but suspended the fine for two years.
Giroud’s spokesperson, Marc Comina, said, ‘Dominique Giroud accepts the decision and will not appeal’.
He said the winemaker has already paid ‘significant sums’ to cover the outstanding money owed to tax authorities.
In his only interview given on the tax issue, to L’Agefi last month, Giroud expressed his ‘sincere regret’, Comina said.
He added that Giroud believes media coverage of his affairs has been excessive and that the winemaker plans to seek damages. He did not name specific publications.
Separately, Giroud remains under investigation by police in Geneva for alleged spying, alongside a computer hacker, a private detective and a fourth person who was working for Switzerland‘s secret service.
Swiss media outlets have been following the story closely for several months, in a saga they have nicknamed the ‘Giroud Affair’.
Written by Chris Mercer
