/ 19 January 2005

Survivor winner faces US tax man

Richard Hatch, winner of Survivor, the unscripted CBS television show, failed to report more than $1-million at tax time, United States prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Hatch (43), of Newport, Rhode Island, also failed to report about $321 000 paid to him by a Boston radio station, the US Department of Justice said in a statement.

If found guilty, Hatch could spent five years in prison and a fine of $250 000.

The Survivor show also paid Hatch $10 000 to appear on the final episode of the programme, which was not reported, the statement said.

”In November 2002, Hatch filed a false personal income tax return for the 2000 tax year by failing to report the $1 010 000 paid to him by Survivor Entertainment Group,” the statement said.

Hatch has not been arraigned and has not entered a plea, prosecutors said.

He won the Survivor challenge by being the remaining contestant in a group of persons left on a remote island to be voted off by their fellows. – Sapa-AFP