Spanish prosecutors have reached a deal with Colombian pop star, Shakira to end a tax fraud dispute, just as her trial was about to begin.
Report has it that the singer has paid a multi-million fine, avoiding a potential eight-year prison sentence and a €23.8m fine if found guilty.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, said she settled “with the best interest of my kids at heart”. She had faced tax fraud allegations for €14.5m in a Barcelona court.
Quest Times learned further that in a lengthy statement, she explained that her decision to settle was driven by her desire to protect her children from the emotional toll of a lengthy trial.
“Throughout my career, I have always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others,” she said.
“Unfortunately, and despite these efforts, tax authorities in Spain pursued a case against me as they have against many professional athletes and other high-profile individuals, draining those people’s energy, time, and tranquillity for years at a time.
“While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.”
She added she needed to “move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love – my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career”.
The dispute centered around Shakira’s residency status between 2012 and 2014, when prosecutors alleged that she was living in Spain but listing her official residence elsewhere. Under Spanish law, people who spend more than six months in the country are considered residents for tax purposes, but Shakira says Spain was not where she was mainly living at the time.
Shakira declared Spain to be her place of residence for tax purposes in 2015. She said she has paid €17.2m in tax and has no outstanding debts.
Her then-partner, Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué, in a separate case in 2019, was fined €2.1m by the Spanish national court for evading tax between 2008 and 2010.
The couple having two sons together, aged seven and nine, announced in early June that they had split up after 11 years.
