The public prosecutor’s office in Spain has filed a criminal complaint against pop singer Shakira in an investigation into alleged tax evasion. The application was submitted on Tuesday to the responsible investigative court in Espluges de Llobregat, near Barcelona, the Europa Press news agency reported.
It was said that the public prosecutor’s office, responsible for economic crimes, had accused the 46-year-old Colombian of tax debts of approximately 6.7 million euros. A spokesperson for the judiciary confirmed this information upon request.
The investigation was launched in July following a report from the tax office regarding two possible crimes regarding income and wealth tax in 2018. An investigating court will now have to decide whether the musician, who rose to fame with hit songs like “Waka Waka” and “Hips Don’t Lie”, should also be in the dock in this tax case.
Shakira has been in trouble with the tax authorities and judiciary in Spain for a long time. The singer will probably have to go to court in Barcelona this year due to allegations of tax evasion of approximately 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014. The public prosecutor’s office is demanding a prison sentence of eight years and two months and a fine of 23.8 million euros.
The artist has repeatedly protested his innocence. She claims she was a tax resident of the Bahamas in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Moreover, he has now paid all the taxes and interest. In July last year, she rejected an out-of-court settlement with tax authorities in Spain – her adopted home until she split from ex-football professional Gerard Piqué. Shakira has now moved to Miami with her sons Milan (10) and Sasha (8).
