Shakira faces trial for Tax Fraud

Editor

Colombian pop artist Shakira has chosen to go to trial rather than accept a plea bargain offered by Spanish prosecutors to resolve claims that she cheated the Spanish government out of 14.5 million euros ($15 million) in taxes, according to her public relations team on Wednesday.

Shakira, 45, “trusts her innocence and chose to put the issue in the hands of the authorities,” according to the public relations firm Llorente y Cuenca.

In 2018, Spanish authorities charged the singer with failing to pay 14.5 million euros in taxes on earnings between 2012 and 2014. If she is found guilty of tax evasion, she might face a fine and prison time.

There were no immediate specifics available on the bargain proposed by prosecutors. The trial date has not yet been established.

Colombian Singer Shakira Could Face Jail? Spain Court Found “Evidence” For $20 Million Tax Evasion
Colombian pop singer Shakira has opted to go to trial instead of accepting a deal

Shakira’s public relations office stated that she has deposited the alleged sum owed with the Spanish Tax Agency and has no outstanding tax debts.

The suspicion regarding the pop singer’s residence is at the heart of the dispute. Despite having an official residency in the Bahamas, the court concluded she spent most of her time in Spain. The evidence revealed that Shakira was a “habitual resident in Spain,” according to the Spanish court, adding that the paperwork did not establish her domicile for tax reasons in another nation.

“In all the countries where she has had to pay taxes, Shakira’s conduct on tax matters has always been excellent, and she has trusted and dutifully followed the suggestions of the best specialists and expert advisors,” her public relations firm said.

If found guilty of tax evasion, the singer might face fines and imprisonment. A court may decrease the sentence if the first-time offender is sentenced to fewer than two years in prison. The singer’s legal team stated in a statement that they will continue to “fight her innocence.”

Shakira has two children with Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll. The pair used to live together in Barcelona, but their 11-year romance ended recently.