Shakira, a Colombian pop singer, faces up to eight years in prison if she is found guilty in a Spanish government-filed fraud case. Shakira, a 45-year old divorcee, recently ended her marriage to Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué, and could spend eight years in jail in Spain if found guilty.
Prosecutors declared on Friday that they will ask the court for an eight year and two-month sentence if the three-time Grammy Award winner pop singer is found guilty of tax evasion. This week, she turned down the prosecution’s offer of a plea bargain.
Shakira is blamed for overlooking paying 14.5 million euros, or $15 million in taxes, between 2012 and 2014 to the Spanish government. Her full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, and she is one of the most famous pop singers around the globe. The prosecution declared that they would also pursue a $24 million fine.
“Shakara always complied and abided by the law, exhibiting excellent conduct as a human and a taxpayer,” according to a statement released by her supporters in London on Friday. The Spanish Tax Agency was suspected of abusing her rights by the publicists.
The performer has deposited the sum she is supposed to be indebted to, a sum of 3 million euros with interest. Shakira’s Spanish civic relations staff, who made the statement earlier this week.
The Grammy 3-time award winner apparently should have paid taxes in Spain as she disbursed more than half of each year between 2012 and 2014 there, according to the Barcelona public prosecutor.
Shakira, 45, and Piqué, 35, lived in Barcelona together for 11 years when they were married. She has two children with him. Living in Barcelona. Shakira is accused of a total of six crimes, according to the summons.
This week, the pop singer turned down a plea bargain from the hearing and chose to go to trial in its place. There is no definite date known for the trial, but it may be announced soon.
What is the case with Shakira’s tax dispute?
According to the Spanish newspaper, the pop singer has been charged with cheating the country’s tax of €14.5 million by evading personal income tax and estate tax. Shakira is accused of failing to pay taxes between 2012 and 2014 when is among the best pop stars.
According to the prosecution, she allegedly had a relationship with FC Barcelona center-back Gerard Piqué of Spain and resided in a home she had bought there while formally maintaining a tax residency in the Bahamas.