A French appeals court has convicted fashion designer Mahmood Bhatti in a tax fraud and money laundering case, sentencing him to a suspended prison term, a heavy fine, and a lengthy ban on business activities.
According to French media reports, including those published by Le Monde, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled that charges of tax evasion and others cases against Bhatti had been proven.
Under the court’s decision, Bhatti was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined 150,000 euros. The court also barred him from managing or operating any company for the next 10 years.
During the proceedings, authorities also confiscated three luxury watches and three Jaguar vehicles linked to the case.
Investigators said evidence showed tax fraud activities between 2009 and 2012, while money laundering offenses were traced from 2009 to 2014.
According to investigators, Bhatti used a company based in the United Arab Emirates to finance his lavish lifestyle through a loan-based financial system.
More read, Pakistani-French fashion designer Mehmood Bhatti sentenced for tax fraud
Court records further revealed that Bhatti acknowledged the allegations during the appeal process and requested a reduced sentence. Reports also noted that he had previously faced investigation in a financial misconduct case in 2001.
