Shakira Ordered To Stand Trial In Spain For Alleged Tax Evasion

Shakira Ordered To Stand Trial In Spain For Alleged Tax Evasion

According to the BBC and local sources, a Barcelona court has ordered Colombian music icon, Shakira, to stand trial on six charges of alleged tax fraud worth 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million). According to reports from the summer before, the Grammy winner could have received an eight-year prison term and a $22.7 million fine if proven guilty. She has fiercely denied all accusations.

In the years between 2012 and 2014, when they contend Shakira was allegedly living in Spain but declaring another place as her primary address, prosecutors charged six tax offenses. People who stay in Spain for more than six months a year are considered residents for tax reasons under Spanish law. The Court of Instruction Number 2 of Esplugues de Llobregat has agreed to open a trial, whose date has not been set, though El Mundo suggests it will be “in the coming months.”

The star and executive producer of NBC’s reality competition Dancing With Myself have stated that she was not primarily residing in Spain during the relevant period. She previously stated, “I am confident that I have enough evidence to support my case and that justice will prevail in my favor,” in an interview with Spanish Elle earlier this month.

In July, the prosecutor’s office alleged Shakira was “ordinarily resident in Spain between 2012 and 2014 and in May 2012 bought a house in Barcelona.” Officials claim that the residence was not only for the singer but also for the singer’s then-partner, FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué, and their 2013 Spanish-born baby.

Since then, the pair have split up. According to the BBC, Shakira designated Spain to be her tax residence in 2015 and claimed to have paid 17.2 million euros ($16.4 million) in taxes with no outstanding debts.

She further told Elle, “The tax authorities saw that I was dating a Spanish citizen and began to salivate. It is clear that they wanted to go after that money no matter what.” It has been reported that she previously rejected a settlement offer from prosecutors.

According to El Mundo, Shakira’s entourage responded to the most recent developments saying her lawyers will “do their job by delivering her arguments at the right time, which is with the defense brief.”

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