Colombian-born singer and songwriter Shakira is likely to have to sue a Spanish court for tax evasion, Newsweek reports.
The judge acknowledged that the court had gathered sufficient evidence to suggest that the singer had committed a criminal offense in breach of his obligations to the state.
Judge Hesus Juberias acknowledged that the investigation into the singer’s tax evasion took three years.
Shakira is accused of tax evasion worth 14.5 million euros. Prosecutors say the pop star did not pay taxes to Spain between 2012 and 2014. She had to do that because she was a resident of that country.
“Shakira Izabela Mebaraka Ripolla did not pay taxes to Spain in 2012, 2013 and 2014, although she was obliged to do so because she was a tax resident here,” Judge Hesus said, referring to court documents.
The singer’s court decision can be appealed.
It is said that if Shakira is found guilty, she could even face imprisonment. However, a judge may ask a court not to impose a prison sentence if the perpetrator has not committed a violent crime, as in this case.
Prosecutors say the singer avoided paying income tax and corporate tax.
The singer admitted that in those years when she had not paid taxes, because she did not live in Spain, but in the Bahamas and visited Spain only periodically. At that time, he had declared his place of residence in Panama, a Central American country. However, the prosecutor’s office says that this does not protect him from paying taxes in his home country.
Court documents say that it is necessary to initiate legal proceedings, because both the singer and the prosecutors insist on their own and are unable to reach an agreement. The singer can avoid the trial only if she reaches an agreement with the Spanish prosecutors.
Shakira Izabela Mebaraka Ripolla, better known by her stage name Shakira, is a Colombian singer, songwriter and producer. The musician has released seven studio albums, four concert albums, three selections of the best songs, two EP recordings and 39 singles. Shakira has won two Grammy Awards, eight Latin American Grammy Awards and has been nominated for a Golden Globe.
Shakira is the best-selling Colombian artist of all time and the second most successful Latin American musician after Gloria Estefan, with more than 70 million copies sold worldwide.
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