Shakira is ready to go on trial for tax fraud after a Spanish choose permitted proceedings towards the pop megastar.
Prosecutors have accused the Colombian singer of failing to pay 14.5m euros (£13m) in taxes on earnings earned between 2012 and 2014.
The Hips Don’t Lie vocalist has claimed she didn’t dwell in Spain on the time and has denied any wrongdoing since allegations have been made in 2018.
The 45-year-old has rejected a cope with authorities to keep away from happening trial, along with her representatives saying she has already paid all she owes and an additional three million euros (£2.6m) in curiosity.
Her spokesperson has mentioned she is “confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process”.
But if Shakira is discovered responsible of tax evasion, she might face an eight-year jail sentence and a 24 million euro (£20.2m) high quality.
The date for the trial has but to be set.
What precisely is Shakira accused of?
Prosecutors in Barcelona allege that the Grammy winner spent greater than half of her time between 2012 and 2014 in Spain and will have paid taxes within the nation, though her official residence was within the Bahamas.
However, Shakira insists she had authorized residency within the Bahamas on the time, and didn’t spend 183 days in Spain, which is the brink to be thought-about a tax resident.
The music star, whose full identify is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has been linked to Spain since she began relationship footballer Gerard Pique.
The couple, who’ve two youngsters, used to dwell collectively in Barcelona however ended their relationship in June.
‘Yet one other baseless case’
Shakira’s spokesperson mentioned: “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 each two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue one more baseless case.”
Spain has cracked down on footballers like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the previous decade for not paying their full due in taxes.
Both have been discovered responsible of evasion and acquired jail sentences that have been waived for first-time offenders.
Source: information.sky.com”