Pavarotti denies tax evasion charge

MODENA, Italy -- Opera star Luciano Pavarotti has pleaded not guilty during an appearance in an Italian court to tax evasion charges.

The tenor is accused of filing false tax returns between 1989 to 1995 and concealing in the region of 40 billion lire ($19 million) in earnings from Italian tax authorities.

If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.

Pavarotti gave his statement at the opening of the hearing in Modena, in central Italy on Monday.

"I don't feel guilty and if a law says the contrary I want you all to know that I was acting in total good faith," he was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.

Pavarotti has long claimed that his official place of residence is Monte Carlo, a tax haven, rather than Modena. He also claims that his business core is not in Italy.

"A singer expresses himself in the world," he told the court, adding that he spends his time between New York, Monte Carlo, and London. He denied even having a house in Modena.

"I earn abroad and bring the money in Italy," he said. "I don't think it's right to think ill of me for this reason."

Last year, Pavarotti agreed to pay the Italian government more than 24 billion lire ($11.3 million) in back taxes and penalties on civil tax evasion charges stemming from those same years.