Judge throws out Dolce&Gabbana tax evasion case

A judge has thrown out a tax evasion and fraud case against designing duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

Prosecutors alleged the pair had each failed to pay taxes on undeclared income of euro416 million ($588 million) by moving their business to Luxembourg in 2004.

Judge Simone Luerti ruled Friday that there was no evidence of criminal activity, and refused to file charges. The criminal case ends there, but the designers may still face tax authority scrutiny.

However, a lawyer for the pair, Massimo Dinoia, says he expects a similar outcome of administrative procedures. The designers, besides declaring their innocence when the investigation launched, have refused to comment.

Dolce&Gabbana last year celebrated 20 years of dressing celebrities from their early muse Madonna to young stars like Scarlett Johansson.