Free To Race Here, There and Everywhere
As we mentioned yesterday, race car driver and tax evader Helio Castroneves is currently out on $10 million bail and not allowed to leave the country.
However, he asked for a court hearing yesterday to seek permission to go race in Australia later this month.
Prosecutors argued that the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner had several reasons to flee as he has assets in Brazil and other counties.
However, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff surprisingly said that he was convinced fleeing would be "the dumbest thing Mr. Castroneves could do" - to return to his native Brazil.
His request was granted!
Let's see if Helio's an idiot or not. Either way, if it were any other regular Joe, we doubt they'd be allowed to leave the US.
The judge said in a statement to Helio, "You have much to lose by not complying with conditions of release."
Wow. Big threat!
Castroneves' attorney said about his client that "Unless he's planning to go to the Amazon, there's no place to go in Brazil."
However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Axelrod, said that Helio "has $15 million in an account in the Netherlands and access to millions more in Brazil, where he owns Burger King restaurants and a car dealership" and believes he has all the reason to run.
We kind of agree.
Why should he be given special treatment?
The rest of us have to pay taxes legally. But this guy supposedly owes a lot of money to the governement and he's still given special priviledges?
What do U think?
[Image via WENN.]