Colombian music sensation Shakira has reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors in her tax fraud case, averting a trial and agreeing to pay millions in fines.
As part of the deal, the 46-year-old star will serve a three-year suspended sentence and contribute 7.3 million euros ($7.98 million) in fines.
The charges against Shakira involved allegations of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in income earned between 2012 and 2014. She had contested the charges, asserting that she only became a full-time resident of Spain in 2015.
Wearing a pink suit and sunglasses, Shakira made no verbal statements to the reporters swarming the Barcelona courthouse. However, in a statement released by her legal team, she expressed her decision to settle for the well-being of her two sons, Milan and Sasha.
The singer emphasized the need to move past the emotional strain of recent years and focus on her children and upcoming career ventures, including a world tour and a new album.
The legal dispute centered on Shakira’s residency status in Spain from 2012 to 2014, with authorities contending that she spent a significant portion of that time in the country and should have paid taxes accordingly. Shakira’s defense argued that she led a “nomadic life” until 2014, earning primarily from international tours, and permanently moved to Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in 2015.
Following her split from former FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique in June 2022, Shakira relocated to Miami with her two sons. The trial, initially scheduled to last until December 14, involved an extensive list of almost 120 witnesses.
Shakira’s financial matters have previously come under scrutiny, with her inclusion in the “Pandora Papers” leak in October 2021, exposing global wealth and tax strategies. Notably, Spain has intensified efforts to combat tax evasion, exemplified by legal actions against high-profile figures such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Shakira’s former partner, Gerard Pique, also faced tax fraud charges in 2016, resulting in a 2.1 million euro payment to the tax office.
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