Joe Duggan (Reporter)
SPANISH opera icon Montserrat Caballe has been handed a six-month suspended jail sentence after admitting to fraud.
The 82-year-old world-renowned soprano was also ordered to pay a fine of €254,231.
A Barcelona judge ratified an earlier prosecutor’s decision not to send the diva to trial or jail.
In 2010, Caballe admitted that she diverted her earnings through an Andorra-based company, despite being a Spanish resident.
Caballe pleaded guilty from her living room via a video link, citing poor health.
She has since repaid the €500,000 that was lost to tax authorities.
The singer is best known for Barcelona, her 1987 duet with Freddie Mercury that became the theme song for the 1992 Olympics.
During a 50-year career, Caballe has sung alongside opera giants such as Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
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