Colombian singer Shakira arrives in court with her lawyer Pau Molins for her trial over tax fraud allegations in Barcelona, Spain November 20, 2023. REUTERS/Albert Gea
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Colombian singer Shakira arrives in court with her lawyer Pau Molins for her trial over tax fraud allegations in Barcelona, Spain November 20, 2023. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Colombian pop star Shakira reached a deal with prosecutors on Monday to avoid a trial in Barcelona for failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014 .
As part of the deal, she accepted the charges and a fine of 50 percent of the amount owed, or more than 7.3 million euros ($7.5 million).
She also accepted another fine of 438,000 euros to avoid a three-year prison sentence, the judge said during the first hearing of the trial.
“Do you acknowledge the facts and comply with the new sanctions that have been requested?” asked Judge José Manuel del Amo Sánchez. “Yes,” Shakira replied.
Wearing a pink suit, complete with a pink handbag and sunglasses, she arrived a few minutes before 10 a.m. (09:00 GMT) accompanied by her lawyers, amid a media frenzy. Thursday night, Shakira won two Latin Grammy Awards in Seville.
Previously, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer, who is also the subject of a second tax fraud investigation by Spanish authorities, vowed to fight what she called false accusations.
The prosecutor’s office sought a prison sentence of up to eight years and demanded reimbursement of taxes he claims to owe.
It alleged that Shakira had spent more than half of each of the years in question in Spain and was therefore habitually resident in the country. He also said a property in Barcelona she bought in May 2012 was used as her family home.
Shakira, 46, lived with former Barcelona and Spanish football star Gerard Pique for 11 years and the couple have two children. The singer, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, moved to Miami after their split.
Spanish authorities have prosecuted other major celebrities for tax evasion, including soccer players such as Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazilian-Spanish player Diego Costa. All settled and paid heavy fines.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso refused to settle and eventually won a court case against the taxman. The Spanish Supreme Court confirmed his acquittal last month.
