Estefano’s Tale

Colombian pop singer Fabio "Estefano" Salgado, who was shot and left for dead in May, has filed a lawsuit against his former business manager for allegedly stealing $2.8 million.

The lawsuit, filed November 13th in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, accuses Joe Luis Gil of having ties to Salgado’s alleged attacker, Francisco Oliveira, and of diverting funds from the singer’s company, American Business Trading Inc., to one that Gil set up under a similar name in Panama, according to the Miami Herald.

Judge Ronald Friedman ordered that assets of Gil’s companies holding Salgado’s money be frozen. The lawsuit also seeks all business records and copies of checks drawn on Gil’s account.

The lawsuit claims that Salgado wasn’t aware of Gil’s alleged theft until he needed funds to pay for his medical care following the near-fatal shooting and his business manager was nowhere to be found.

Police said Oliveira arrived at Salgado’s home May 25th reportedly to deliver marijuana, then shot his boss in the chest and back of the head. The Latin star, who has worked with artists including Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony and Shakira, was able to speak to police and identify his attacker right after the shooting, the paper said.

Oliveira, a handyman at Salgado’s home and recording studio, was arrested and charged with attempted murder the next day. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, the paper said.