1 of 1 Shakira at a show in São Paulo in 2018 — Photo: Celso Tavares/G1 Shakira at a show in São Paulo in 2018 — Photo: Celso Tavares/G1
Shortly before the start of the trial, the Colombian singer Shakira agreed with the Spanish authorities to a settlement in the case in which she was accused of evading taxes of around 15 million euros, currently equivalent to about R$ 80 million.
In the agreement, Shakira had to accept the allegations of which she had always maintained she was innocent and pay a fine of 50% of the amount owed (around 7.3 million euros) and an amount of 438,000 euros as a penalty According to the Portal news agency, he faces a prison sentence of three years.
Thus, the agreed value is almost R$41.5 million.
Authorities said in the case that Shakira lived in Spain for more than half of the years in question and bought a house for her family in Barcelona in May 2012 which would make her liable for taxes in the country.
Shakira said in an interview with Elle magazine that the Spanish tax authorities came after her when they found out she was dating footballer Gerard Piqué because they saw an opportunity: “Of course they would go after the money anyway .”
According to the singer’s statement, obtained by the BBC, she chose to enter into the agreement to protect the welfare of her children, which was the result of her relationship with Piqué.
“Although I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have decided in my favor, I have decided to finally resolve this matter with the best interests of my children at heart, theirs Don’t want to see children.” “Mother is sacrificing her personal wellbeing in this fight,” he explained.
Shakira also said that she needed to “overcome the stress and emotional exhaustion of the last few years” to focus on her children and her career.
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In her statement, Shakira also mentioned that “the Spanish tax authorities have opened proceedings against me, as they have already done against many professional athletes and other prominent people.”
The country’s tax authorities have prosecuted other celebrities for tax evasion in recent years, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who also paid millions in fines.