Shakira's Tax Fraud Case Moves Forward, Judge Approves Trial in Spain

Shakira's tax fraud case was just approved by a Spanish judge, and she is set for a trial in Spain, where she was accused of not paying over $13.9 million of her taxes.

The singer has vehemently denied that she owes the Spanish government that amount of money, and has rejected deals that were offered to her by the prosecution.

The trial date has not bet set as of this writing, and Shakira nor her team have addressed the recent updates regarding her case.

In her interview with Elle Magazine, the Colombian singer lamented her situation, which was further exacerbated by her separation from football player Gerard Pique earlier this year.

Tax Fraud Case

In 2018, the 45-year-old was accused of failing to pay her taxes from her income earned from 2012 to 2014, reports say.

Shakira, born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, used to live in Spain following her marriage to Pique. According to CNN, Shakira lived in Spain for over 183 days annually between 2011 and 2014, however, her legal team also noted that the Bahamas was the singer's primary residence.

Her spokesperson released a statement in July which claimed Shakira's innocence, "Shakira and her team consider that this case constitutes a total violation of her rights since she has always shown impeccable behavior, as a person and taxpayer, and a total willingness to resolve any disagreement from the beginning, even before the criminal process."

Since then, Shakira has reportedly paid all her debts including an additional $2.8 million in interest.

According to several reports, the Spanish government has been conducting crackdowns on several Spanish personalities in recent years, including football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

However, according to reports, while the two were found guilty, they were able to avoid going to prison due to a provision that allows judges to waive sentences on the basis of two years in length for first-time offenders.

This provision may not be applicable to the "She Wolf" singer, as the prosecution is seeking an eight-year sentence.

'Darkest Hour'

Shakira has maintained a strong face in front of the public for the sake of her children, she revealed in her interview with Elle Magazine.

"You know, we have this resiliency that is just innate in all of us. And we are meant to nurture and to take care of those who depend on us," she said.

"So you ask me how I manage this. And I just manage, I guess, reminding myself that I need to become an example for my kids, that I need to be what they want, what I want them to become."

With her impending trial and the eight-year sentence that might ensue should she be found guilty, her children might not see their mother for quite some time.

For now, the singer is preparing for the trial as well as the release of her album. "In this moment of my life, which is probably one of the most difficult, darkest hours of my life, music has brought light."

Tags

Shakira, Trial, Tax evasion