Supermarket giants GS and Auchan (now
Margherita) are among those being probed in a 1.8 billion euro
tax fraud case, Milan judges said Wednesday.
Nine people have been placed under house arrest on charges of
issuing 1.8 billion euros in false invoices and evading VAT to
the tune of 260 million euros, judicial sources said.
Some 33.8 million euros were seized from GS, which is controlled
by Carrefour, and 26.2 million from Auchan.
Carrefour opened an internal probe and said it was ready to
collaborate with prosecutors.
Among those placed under investigation in the probe are Gerard
Lavinay and Stéphane Coum, respectively ex managing director and
ex operational director of Carrefour Italia.
Wholesale giant Miti is also being probed.
All those probed deny wrongdoing.
Auchan's former buyer Gianpietro Racagni is alleged to have
received in compensation for the alleged fraud two electric
bikes, trips abroad, other gifts and soccer stadium tickets,
police said.
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