Colombian singer Shakira avoids prison after reaching a plea deal.
The artist Shakira finally reached an agreement with the prosecutor’s office, the tax authority and the Catalan government to avoid a prison sentence for him Fraud of 14.5 million euros to the Ministry of Finance. The defendant acknowledged the facts with which she was accused and accepted a prison sentence of three years and a fine totaling around seven million euros, with the prison sentence being replaced by a fine of 432,000 euros.
The Colombian arrived at Barcelona’s Palace of Justice shortly before 10 a.m., the time the trial was scheduled to begin. Shakira had left the door open Pact with the prosecutor’s office and the other two accusations, the Tax Authority and the Generalitat of Catalonia, which were finally confirmed before the judge of the Provincial Court of Barcelona.
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In particular, the singer-songwriter and dancer has admitted her responsibility in each of these cases six felonies against the state treasury, which she was charged with. He had previously returned to the tax authority the 14.5 million euros he stole between 2012 and 2014 when he evaded taxes by pretending to be resident outside of Spain.
Shakira, this Monday, before making a statement before the judge in Barcelona. (Portal/Albert Gea)
After the agreement was ratified, Shakira said in a statement from Llorente & Cuenca (LLYC): “I felt ready to face trial and defend my innocence.” My lawyers were convinced of this We had a successful process. However, after many years of struggle, I have made this decision. I had two options: keep fighting until the end, risk my peace of mind and that of my children, stop making songs, albums and tours without being able to enjoy my career and the things I like, or make an agreement, close and I leave this chapter of my life behind me and look forward to the future.”
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“I have come to the conclusion that it is not a triumph to win if the price is to have so many years of your life stolen from you. I really admire these Spanish citizens Xabi AlonsoSito Pons and many others who fought to the end and invested years of their lives for it, but for me today If I win, I get my time back. “What use is it for me to win a procedure in the end if I have to fight for 10 or 15 years and lose everything?” emphasized the Colombian.
Shakira, this Monday, before making a statement before the judge in Barcelona. (David Oller/Europa Press)
Also in the statement Bring charges against the tax office: “I believe that this system in Spain needs to be reviewed for the benefit of the citizens. And I, for one, will continue to be an ally to achieve this. There are many people who do not have the means to pay for a good defense or even to reach a settlement, and who are seeing their lives being ruined before their eyes because of disagreements with the Treasury in an area outside of the Prison could have been solved, is disappearing before their eyes.”
This isn’t the only legal front the singer is opening over alleged tax evasion. A court in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona) has been investigating her since July last year, after the public prosecutor’s office filed a new complaint accusing her of fraud more than six million in personal income tax and the 2018 wealth tax using a network of companies based in tax havens.