Shakira

The Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that Spanish prosecutors are seeking eight years and two months in prison for Colombian superstar Shakira and a fine of 23.7m euros in the 14.5m euro tax fraud case. In total, the singer is charged with six crimes against the state treasury: according to the judiciary, Shakira evaded income tax and property tax in 2012-2014. Shakira rejected a deal with the investigation that meant avoiding jail time this week.

The singer herself declares that she is completely innocent. She allegedly spent most of her time in the Bahamas, not Spain, during this time. However, the prosecution testifies that at that time he already started an affair with Barcelona football club Gerard Pique and regularly lives in Barcelona (Shakira and Pique broke up recently). The accusation is based on reports from IRS technicians who analyzed Shakira’s daily life, whether for visits to hair and beauty salons, visits to a local clinic while pregnant with her first child, or renting a recording studio near Barcelona. Technical experts also analyzed the singer’s social networks.

According to prosecutors, there are aggravating circumstances in Shakira’s case that allow her to hide her income from the treasury due to “use of intervening legal entities”, that is, companies in tax havens. The indictment mentions a total of 14 companies located in the British Virgin Islands, Malta, Luxembourg, the USA and Panama.

However, the prosecution also considers an extenuating circumstance – compensation, as the Colombian star paid 17.2 million euros by court order. The prosecutor demanded that Shakira and 37 witnesses, some of them via video conference, be questioned at the trial.

The submission of the indictment means that in the coming weeks the court investigating the facts in Barcelona will decide to start the oral proceedings. This means Shakira will have to sit at the pier even if a last minute deal is reached.