Swissleaks 3,276 checks, evasion on 741 mn euros - update 2

(ANSA) - Rome, February 9 - The 5,439 people flagged to Italian police in the Swissleaks case involving the HSBC bank led to 3,276 inspections which found tax evasion on income of 41,755,879 euro, and 4.5 mn in VAT, tax police sources said Monday. The 3,276 inspections showed that 1,264 Italians used the government's 'fiscal shield' to repatriate 1,669,075,253 euros, tax police said Monday. Among those named in the media were fashion designer Valentino and MotoGP ace Valentino Rossi, who have both reached a settlement, and billionaire entrepreneur and former Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore, whose lawyer says his nine accounts are legal. Others include supermodel Elle 'the body' MacPherson, F1 ace Fernando Alonso and King Mohammed VI of Morocco.