By Isabelle Wilson-
Colombian singer Shakira is trial in relation to her alleged tax offences. The head of Examining Court number 2 in Esplugues de Llobregat has sent the Colombian singer to trial for six offences against the tax authorities.
On Tuesday, Spanish authorities paved the way for prosecutors to pursue further legal action against the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer, 45.
Fighting back at the allegations, Shakira insists she had legal residency in the Bahamas at the time and did not spend 183 days or more per year in Spain, which is the threshold to be considered a tax resident.
The star faces a possible eight-year sentence plus a large fine if she is found guilty of not paying taxes from 2012 to 2014.
Spanish prosecutors accused the entertainer in 2018 of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($19.1 million Cdn) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Prosecutors are seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a hefty fine if she is found guilty of tax evasion.
Shakira, 45, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and rejected a deal with authorities to avoid going to trial. Her public relations firm has said that she has already paid all that she owed and an additional three million euros ($3.7 million Cdn) in interest.
On Tuesday approved a trial for Colombian pop singer Shakira on charges of tax fraud.
Shakira, 45, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and rejected a deal with authorities to avoid going to trial. Her public relations firm has said that she has already paid all that she owed and an additional three million euros ($3.7 million Cdn) in interest.
In July, she rejected a settlement offer in the case, according to Reuters, which would have settled the case out of court
The artist was accused of defrauding a total of 14.5 million euros because she was not listed as a resident in Spain when, according to the authorities, she should have been, as she lived for more than half the year in the country.
The prosecution says that she only spent two months in the United States to record ‘The Voice’.
The prosecution is asking for eight years and two months in prison and a fine of 23.8 million euros. The judge’s order does not include any precautionary measures against the Colombian artist.
Her spokesperson said in a statement: ‘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.
Shakira has already repaid the 14.5 million euros defrauded. In any case, it seems that the case did not end there and now the Public Prosecutor’s Office is asking for a sanction for Gerard Pique’s ex-partner, with whom she also has legal tensions over the custody of their children. In any case, the most widespread opinion among legal experts is that these cases usually end with an agreement between the parties.
In May, a court in Spain dismissed her appeal in the case, ruling that there was enough proof to move forward. The court upheld a ruling from July 2021, when Spanish Judge Marco Juberías determined there was “sufficient evidence of criminality” following an investigation that went on for three years.