Snipes Arrested.

Snipes Arrested.Hollywood star WESLEY SNIPES has been arrested by police in Orlando, Florida, on charges he avoided paying $12 million (£6.15 million) in tax.The 44-year-old actor handed himself over to cops, almost two months after he was indicted while shooting movie GALLOWWALKER in Namibia.The US Internal Revenue Service has reportedly been investigating Snipes for the past four years - but the star claims he has been targetted because his celebrity attracts public interest, and in actual fact he is the victim in the case.He recently told an Orlando newspaper, "It appears I'm to be the scapegoat, because there's more public interest in celebrities gone bad than rich people being taken advantage of."I will abide by the law, seek the protections the law affords me and, as always, seek the advice of competent council in an effort to resolve this issue."I'm not running, I'm not a fugitive, despite the misrepresentations in the press."

Snipes Investigation Started 'Years Ago'

WESLEY SNIPES has been under surveillance by America's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for four years, after officials began a nationwide investigation into tax fraud in 2002.

A raid by the IRS in 2002 unearthed documents concerning fraudulent trust funds, one of which was owned by the BLADE star.

The four-year investigation of Snipes' case was brought to light during the trial of ARTHUR FANSWORTH, who has been accused of tax evasion.

Fansworth, who has publicly admitted to the offence, established false trust funds to hide money and evade income tax payments, one of which was owned by Snipes.

Snipes was indicted in Florida on eight charges of fraud in October (06), accused of failing to file tax returns for six years and of seeking $12 million (£6.7 million) in fraudulent refunds.

Fansworth's case continues in a US District Court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.