The Spanish courts have decided that Shakira must appear in court to face charges of tax evasion. If found guilty, the 45-year-old Colombian singer could spend up to eight years behind bars.
Shakira has given an unequivocal response refuting the allegations that have been made against her. The singer of ‘Wherever, Whenever’ is accused of cheating Spanish tax authorities out of €14.5 million (£12.2 million) using her earnings from 2012-2014 as the basis for her scheme.
On Tuesday, the court in Esplugues de Llobregat provided confirmation that the trial would take place on a date that has not yet been decided.
The singer claimed that she led a “nomadic life” between the years of 2012 and 2014 due to the nature of her work. This was during the same time period in which she was accused of not paying the appropriate taxes.
“The order to send Shakira to trial is just another step in any proceedings of this kind. The situation has not changed and everything continues as normal. Shakira’s legal defence will do its job by presenting its written arguments at the appropriate time,” her lawyers said in a statement.
Shakira claims that the Spanish tax office initiated legal action against her before she had paid the amount that they claimed she owed. The previous week, she vowed that she would fight what she considers to be “false accusations” brought forward by Spanish authorities.
Shakira, a singer from Colombia, and Gerard Pique, a soccer player for Barcelona, made the decision to end their relationship earlier this year. Shakira, who is 45 years old, has confirmed that she is no longer living with her boyfriend, a footballer who is 35 years old. The couple had been together for 11 years and had two children during that time.
A brief statement was issued by the communication agency representing the singer, which read as follows: “We regret to confirm that we are parting ways. For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”
In the early months of this year, it was discovered that the player for Barcelona, who had previously won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, was seeing another woman.
It was reported that Pique had been kicked out of the family home and that he and his partner had been living apart for a few weeks as a result. According to El Periodico, since the breakup, he has maintained his status as a bachelor and has adopted a “party lifestyle.” His bachelor pad remains unchanged.
In addition, it has been said that the Spain international has been going to nightclubs with his teammate Riqui Puig and his group of friends and that they frequently return home at late hours, sometimes as late as two or three in the morning.
Do you agree with the sentence that was handed down to Shakira by the Spanish court for tax evasion? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
