Possible Tax Evasion: New Criminal Tax Proceedings Against Shakira in Spain Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Defends Judicial Reform

A court in Barcelona has opened a new investigation into possible tax evasion against pop singer Shakira (“Waka Waka”, “Hips Don’t Lie”).

The Supreme Court of Catalonia announced this on Thursday in the Mediterranean metropolis. The proceedings were initiated in 2018 after a declaration by the tax authorities against the Colombian singer for two possible crimes related to income and wealth tax, according to the judicial press service. Further details were initially not made public.

Shakira has been at odds with the Spanish tax authorities for some time, who accuse her of tax evasion in the years 2012 to 2014 for a total of about 14.5 million euros. That is why she should be in the quay in Barcelona this year. The public prosecutor has demanded a prison sentence of eight years and two months and a fine of 23.8 million euros. The trial will be held before the Court of Audiencia Provincial de Barcelona. The artist has repeatedly protested her innocence.

In July last year, Shakira rejected an out-of-court settlement with the tax authorities in her adoptive country. This paved the way for the musician’s trial.

The key question is where the Colombian was liable for tax in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Justice says: in Spain, because she stayed there for more than half a year in each of the three years. The singer denies that. Shakira confirms that she was living in the Bahamas at the time. She visited her then partner, football star Gerard Piqué of FC Barcelona, ​​with whom she now has two children and from whom she is now divorced, only repeatedly in Spain. Only from 2015 she lived permanently in Barcelona. In addition, she has since paid all taxes plus interest. (cst/sda/dpa)