On Friday, 29th July, Spanish prosecutors voiced that they would attempt to look for a sentence to court for eight years and two months against famous pop star Shakira, as she refused an appealing deal on a tax evasion allegation.
Spanish Govt charged Shakira with 14.5 million euros tax evasion
According to a report from Reuters, Shakira is demanded a fine of almost 24 million euros ($24.5 million) by a lawyer in Barcelona. The Spanish government charged the 45-year-old with failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($15 million) taxes between 2012 and 2014.
The Colombian singer, who has sold over 60 million albums in her music career, declined a plea deal on Wednesday, stating in behalf of her team that she was she was “absolutely certain of her innocence” and made the decision to let the case go to court, being “confident” that her irreproachability would be proven. The impeachment details 6 impositions against the singer. No formal referral has been announced by the court and a trial date has not been decided so far. Shakira’s lawyers said until the start of any trial an agreement remains possible.
Shakira is a superstar in the International music industry with one of the biggest names. Prosecutors mention the pop star moved to Spain in 2011 when she was having a relationship with Gerard Pique, an FC Barcelona defender. The news was public yet maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015. The pair, who share two children, recently terminated their relationship.
On Wednesday, Shakira condemned the “complete violation of her rights” and “abusive methods” carried out by the prosecutor’s office. She claimed prosecutors were “insisting on claiming money earned during my international tours and the show The Voice” on which she was a judge in the United States, when she was “not yet resident in Spain”. Shakira was on the singing competition show between 2013 and 2014.
Shakira “has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer,” said her publicists in London in a statement on Friday. The Spanish Tax Agency was accused by the publicists for violating her rights.
Earlier this week, the singer’s public relation team said that the artist has paid the amount she was in debt which includes interest of 3 million euros. Lawyers of Barcelona have accused the Grammy winner spent more than half of each year between 2012 and 2014 in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country.
