Dolce and Gabbana found innocent of tax evasion

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been found innocent of tax evasion, with Italy's highest court overturning the pair's previous convictions on Friday.

Italian prosecutors accused the Dolce & Gabbana designers of funnelling funds to a Luxembourg company in order to avoid paying taxes totalling €200 million. The pair had been under investigation for tax fraud since 2008 and were sentenced last year to 20-month suspended jail sentences. 

However, Italy's supreme court has annulled the convictions and cited the prosecution's case as "unfounded". Dolce & Gabbana released a simple statement on Friday night, saying: "We have always been honest and we are extremely proud of this recognition by the Italian court of justice."

Prosecutors had argued that setting up the Luxembourg-based company Gado, a moniker comprised of their two surnames, was a deliberate attempt to defraud the state. The legendary designers have always maintained their innocence and had appealed against the ruling.

The decision from Italy's top court is absolute, meaning that the case is now closed forever – or, as Dominco and Stefano put it: "Viva l'Italia."