Prosecutors in Spain have requested eight years and two months in prison, as well as a fine of more than €23 million, for Colombian singer Shakira in a tax evasion case. The singer did not pay taxes in Spain from 2012 to 2014 and withdrew this money to offshore accounts. In the coming weeks, the court of the Spanish city of Esplugues de Llobrega (Barcelona province), investigating the case, will rule on the start of court hearings.
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Prosecutors filed an indictment against the singer last week. In it, the supervisory authority demanded that the Colombian singer be sentenced to eight years and two months in prison “for six crimes against the state treasury.”
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Last Wednesday, July 27, Shakira refused a deal with the prosecutor’s office in the case of non-payment of taxes in the amount of €14.5 billion, considering the offer disproportionate and contrary to her interests. The singer accused the agency of being “uncompromising” and using “inappropriate means of pressure.”
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During this period, the singer lived in the Bahamas and only “from time to time” visited Spain, having the status of a tax resident in this country. However, the bailiffs claim the opposite: according to their information, during this period the artist lived in Spain for more than 183 days a year. Based on the results of three years of investigation, the prosecutor’s office considers the existing grounds sufficient to start a trial against the singer.
