Singer Wei Wei

Chinese pop music star and Stockholm resident Wei Wei has been targeted by Swedish tax authorities, who recently attempted to freeze 50 million kronor (about US$6.6 million) of the singer's assets, according to Swedish media reports.

The Local, a Swedish website, published a story on June 30, quoting the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) as saying, Wei Wei has neglected to pay income taxes on money earned from concert tours throughout her homeland, where she is one of the country's biggest stars.

The agency argued Wei Wei did not report her annual income of around 29 million kronor (about US$3.8 million) between 2004 and 2008 to the Swedish tax authorities and thus requested the singer's assets to be frozen until she paid the tax debt in Sweden, according to the report.

However, the County Administrative Court rejected this request, citing the fact that "its estimates were based on information from the internet and the media, including interviews with Wei Wei as well as conversations the Tax Agency had with people who are long-time residents of China".

The court ultimately ruled the Tax Agency's claim against Wei Wei lacked enough concrete evidence, even if the singer may have evaded income tax that ought to be paid in Sweden.

Beijing-based Global Times recently contacted Ms. Guan, the entertainer's agent in China, for confirmation but was told it was unknown.

The latest reports from sohu.com on Thursday morning say, Ms. Guan remarked the charge is groundless, adding Wei Wei is a Chinese singer who has no obligation to pay tax to Sweden.

There are many rumored reports of Wei Wei's citizenship switch but most people believe she had obtained Swedish citizenship after marrying a Swedish pianist, Michael Smith, who she divorced in 2004 after a ten-year marriage.

Wei Wei, from northern China's Inner Mongolia, is a pop star close to the Chinese people, well-known for her songs "Devotion of Love" and "Our Asia", she has conquered the hearts of thousands with her deep voice. The singer has lived in Stockholm, Sweden since 1999.

(CRI July 2, 2009)