Spanish court rejects Shakira’s appeal in tax fraud case
A Spanish court on Thursday rejected Colombian singer Shakira’s appeal in a tax fraud case, paving the way for a trial after a judge previously concluded there was enough evidence to suggest that the pop star had sued for the state. Your financial obligations may have been avoided. The case first made headlines in December 2018 when Spanish prosecutors accused the singer of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.5 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014.
Shakira, 45, denied any wrongdoing when she testified in June 2019.
The singer’s residence is at the center of the legal wrangling: prosecutors allege that she lived mostly in Spain, despite having an official residence in the Bahamas.
In its ruling issued on Thursday, the Spanish court said evidence showed Shakira was “a habitual resident in Spain”, adding that the document failed to prove her residence for tax purposes in another country.
The court upheld a July ruling in which Spanish judge Marco Juberias wrote that his three-year investigation found there was “sufficient evidence of criminality” for the case to be heard.
Shakira’s public relations firm said on Thursday it had paid off the debt immediately after it was notified by Spain’s tax office.
The PR firm said in a statement, “Shakira’s conduct on tax matters has always been impeccable in all countries where she has had to pay taxes, and she has relied on the recommendations of the best experts and expert advisors and followed faithfully.” has done.”
Shakira’s legal team will continue to “defend her innocence,” according to the statement.
If convicted of tax evasion, the singer faces a possible fine and prison sentence. However, a judge can waive jail time for first-time offenders if they are sentenced to less than two years behind bars.