Ronaldo appears before judge in tax fraud investigation

(Associated Press) -- Cristiano Ronaldo appeared before a Spanish judge Monday as part of an investigation to determine whether the Portugal forward committed tax fraud worth almost 15 million euros ($16.5 million).

The Real Madrid player spent more than 90 minutes answering the questions of investigating judge Monica Gomez. The session at Pozuelo de Alarcon Court No. 1 on the outskirts of Madrid was closed to the public because it is part of an ongoing investigation.

The 32-year-old Ronaldo used an alternative entrance to avoid a large swarm of journalists gathered near the main door to the court.

Court officials had said that either Ronaldo or his lawyer would speak to the media after he saw the judge, but neither stepped up to the temporary podium in front of the courthouse.

Instead, spokesman Inaki Torres emerged from the building to announce that Ronaldo "was on his way home."

Judge Gomez took Ronaldo's testimony as part of an investigation to determine if there are grounds to charge him.