Major seizure in Castellammare: Naval consortium accused of tax evasion of over €1,5 million

A significant operation was conducted today by the Castellammare di Stabia Guardia di Finanza Company, which executed a precautionary seizure order issued by the preliminary investigations judge of the Torre Annunziata Court, involving assets worth a total of €1.593.163.

The measure concerns a joint venture consortium based in Castellammare di Stabia, active in the shipbuilding sector, and its legal representative, accused of failure to pay withholding taxes, a crime provided for by Article 10-bis of Legislative Decree 74/2000.

The investigations stemmed from tax investigations conducted by the Italian Revenue Agency, which revealed that the consortium failed to pay the withholding taxes due for 2021 within the legal deadlines. Subsequent investigations revealed that this unlawful conduct continued in 2022 and 2023, resulting in total unpaid withholdings of over €1,5 million: €512.215 for 2021, €508.250 for 2022, and €569.697 for 2023.

Given the seriousness of the tax evasion and the risk that the legal representative might steal assets or money to evade the measure, the investigating judge ordered the precautionary seizure of a property, financial assets, company shares, and motorcycles attributable to the consortium and the suspect, up to the amount evaded.

The criminal proceedings are still in the preliminary investigation phase, and the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence applies until a final verdict. The seizure may, however, be appealed before the Court of Review.