Fashion designer Lakis Gavalas was arrested on Wednesday for the sixth time over unpaid debts towards the State and was given until Friday to state his plead in court.
The police issued a warrant for Mr. Gavalas’ arrest for debts worth 712,000 euros, of which 15,000 is for unpaid property taxes, 120,000 for non-payment of VAT and 348,000 from income taxes. Mr. Gavalas, who surrendered himself immediately, had been detained for 15 months and was given a 7-year suspended sentence from the Felony Appeal Courts and a 5-year prison sentence from the Misdemeanor Courts.
According to Mr. Gavalas’ attorney Yannis Pagoropoulos, the fashion designer has disputed the total sum of the 17-million-euro debt attributed to him, while stressing that his client has bestowed his property in Kantza to the State, which is worth 33.7 million euros, in order to cover his debts.
Mr. Gavalas’ side claims that a buyer was interested in the property, but the legal vacuum has stalled further negotiations.
