Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana the design duo behind Milan Fashion Week label Dolce & Gabbana have been fined €343.4 (£290 million) by the Italian Tax Commission.
The fine relates to the accusation that the pair evaded €420 million (£355 million) in tax payments when they sold their two brands, Dolce & Gabbana and D&G, to their own Luxembourg-based company, Gado Srl in 2004.
The charges were brought against the accused in 2007, however, in April 2011 they were dismissed by a lower court, which deemed there was no foundation for a trial. The Italian Supreme Court overturned that decision last November, ruling that the designers must stand trial.
Dolce and Gabbana could still avoid the fine however, if they decide to appeal and wait for a third degree sentence, The Telegraph reports.
