Pop star Shakira to stand trial in Spain in tax fraud case

Colombian music superstar Shakira will stand trial in a Spanish court in a tax fraud case. According to news agency PTI, prosecutors accused the singer in 2018 of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. They are seeking a prison sentence of eight years and a fine of nearly 24 million euros if she is found guilty of tax evasion.

Shakira has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In a recent interview with the Spanish edition of Elle magazine, the singer said that she’s confident that she has enough proof to support her case and that justice will prevail in her favour.

She previously also rejected a deal, offered by prosecutors, to avoid going to trial.

The date for the trial has yet to be set.

According to prosecutors, Shakira moved to Spain in 2011 after her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique became public but listed her official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.

As per the Spanish law, people who spend over six months in the country are considered residents for tax purposes. However, Shakira claims Spain was not where she mainly resided at the time.

Prosecutors issued a document in July which said that Shakira purchased a house in Barcelona in 2012, which became a family home for her and footballer Gerard Piqué.

The singer’s lawyers claim that until 2014 major part of her income came from international tours and she spent most of her time outside of Spain.

Shakira and Gerard, who are parents to two children, announced their separation in June this year.

A Barcelona court ordered the singer to stand trial for six tax crimes on September 19, according to a court ruling made public on Tuesday.

Earlier, Spain has cracked down on soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for failing to pay their full due in taxes.

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