She has just averted the big trial again: Shortly before the start of negotiations, Shakira agreed to an out-of-court settlement with the Spanish public prosecutor’s office in a tax fraud case. According to consistent media reports, she admitted tax evasion in the regional court in Barcelona on Monday, although she had denied it in the past. She had also previously rejected a settlement offered by the public prosecutor.
With her admission, she avoids the prison sentence of up to eight years demanded by the public prosecutor. In addition, there was a fine of 23.8 million euros. Shakira was due to appear before the court in the Spanish capital on charges of tax fraud amounting to 14.5 million euros. The musician has now been sentenced to a much lighter sentence of three years in prison on probation and a fine of 7.3 million euros.
The Colombian, who lived in Barcelona with her ex-partner Gerard Piqué, explains the change of heart out of consideration for her children. In a statement, Shakira wrote, according to BBC News: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would be in my favor, I have made the decision to handle this matter in the best possible way “I want to solve my children’s interest in not wanting their mother to sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.”
She wants to leave the stress and strain of the last few years behind her and focus on the things she loves: “My children and all the opportunities that come with my career, including my upcoming world tour and my new album.” For her, the court deal means “that I have time for my children and my career again.”
This is what the trial should be about: The ex-partner of the former Barca star Piqué is said to have not paid taxes amounting to around 14.5 million euros, which she should have paid in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In addition, the judges and public prosecutor’s office discovered possible tax evasion from 2018 as part of the investigation. The responsible tax office was commissioned to shed more light on this matter.
The prosecution claimed in relation to the first cases from 2012-2014 that the Grammy winner spent more than half of that period in Spain, although her official place of residence was the Bahamas. She would therefore also have been obliged to pay taxes in Spain. At the time, Shakira announced that she had “always acted in accordance with the law and on the advice of her financial advisors.” Shakira now lives in Miami, Florida.
The singer was in a relationship with professional footballer Piqué for around eleven years. The two have two children together and separated in June 2022. Piqué was under contract with FC Barcelona until a few months before the end of their relationship.
