Shakira to face Spanish court over allegations of tax evasion

Waka Waka famed singer Shakira (legally known as Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) is facing a legal battle with the Spanish government. Shakira has allegedly evaded paying €14.5 million euros (nearly US $15 million) in taxes to the government.

If proven guilty, the 45-year-old would have to pay a fine and could possibly be jailed.

What is the case? Back in 2018, Spanish prosecutors had charged Shakira for not paying nearly €14.5 million euros in taxes from 2012 to 2014.

In July 2021, Reuters reported that Spanish judge Marco Jesus Juberias had seen sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial in this case.

Shakira’s public relations firm, Llorente and Cuenca claims that she paid her taxes to the Spanish tax agency and has no pending debts.

While prosecutors say that Shakira was residing in Spain during the two-year time period (2012-14), defendants claim that her official residence was in the Bahamas.

While not much is known about the case, Euronews reports that the trial will taken place in Barcelona, Spain. No date has been set yet.

Shakira's response: As per Shakira’s lawyers, she has rejected the plea deal offered by Spanish authorities. Shakira wishes to 'prove her innocence' in court.

In a statement, Llorente and Cuenca said that Shakira “trusts her innocence and chooses to leave the issue in the hands of the law.”

As is the trend now, it is not known whether her tax evasion trial will be televised or not.

In May 2022, Shakira ended her 11 year relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. She was spotted in Mexico with their two sons this week.