Hot Topics:

Fernandez fights fraud allegations

Filmax boss faces prison if guilty

By EMILIANO DE PABLOS, JOHN HOPEWELL

Europe to extend music copyright

China defiant over Olympics row

Premiere to learn from Sky Italia

EM.Sport scores best ever profit

Sony, Burnett dive into 'Shark Tank'

Taylor Lautner to star in 'Max Steel'(3390 views)

Jack Black animates film pitch(3187 views)

'Blind Side' tackles box office competition(2665 views)

Nine(1478 views)

Bennett Miller to direct 'Moneyball'(1375 views)

Overture nabs rights to 'Stone'(1039 views)

A Catalan regional government prosecutor has asked that Filmax chairman Julio Fernandez be sentenced to six years in prison and a fine of E36,000 ($53,000) for alleged fraud committed while Fernandez headed distributor Ivex Films in the early 1990s.

In the first day of hearings, the prosecutor alleged that Fernandez emptied Barcelona-based Ivex�s coffers of $69 million before the company filed for Chapter 11 in 1991.

Fernandez denied the charge and argued that all creditors were paid under Chapter 11 arrangements.

He said at the trial, which started Tuesday, that he had had no contact with the claimants who have brought the case against him.

Filmax sources declined to comment on the trial, which was set to finish Thursday.

A judge will decide sentence within one or two months.