She recently turned down a plea deal concerning tax evasion allegations.
Shakira is accused with defrauding the government of almost $15 million in taxes, and on Friday, Spanish prosecutors issued a warning that if a jury finds her guilty, they will seek a jail sentence of at least eight years.
Additionally, a fine of almost $24.5 million, or 24 million euros, will be requested. The international music star was given the opportunity to accept a settlement agreement, but she rejected and chose to proceed with the trial instead, according to Fox News.
A representative for the singer also released a statement to the publication, saying, “Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouse Coopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm.”
“Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case. Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process.”
Between 2012 and 2014, Shakira is said to have owed the Spanish government 14.5 million euros ($15 million) in unpaid taxes. According to Barcelona’s prosecutors, she is supposedly required to pay taxes in Spain because she spent more than half of both 2012 and 2014 there.
On the other hand, her legal representatives argued that she only settled to Spain for good in 2015 and that she has complied with all tax requirements up to that point, earning the majority of her income from overseas tours prior to 2014.
Additionally, she contributed 17.2 million euros in taxes to the Spanish government, and she has been free of Treasury debt for a very long time. Six further accusations have been made against her.
The three-time Grammy Award winner attempted to have the same tax fraud allegations overturned in May, but the court denied her motion.
Reactions to Shakira's Tax Fraud Lawsuit In Spain Calls For An Eight-Year Prison Sentence
me breaking into spanish prison to free shakira
me breaking into spanish prison to free shakira pic.twitter.com/ijcNDNVfUq
— beysmelanin (@beysmeIanin) July 29, 2022
me distracting the guards so shakira can sneak out of jail
me distracting the guards so shakira can sneak out of jail pic.twitter.com/s6Pw7z5wUP
— mooteabh | former minor (@bamchaen) July 29, 2022
the spanish colonizers trying to rob my colombian queen's money shall never succeed. shakira shall win this tax case.
the spanish colonizers trying to rob my colombian queen's money shall never succeed. shakira shall win this tax case.
— . (@shakiraxcub) July 29, 2022