Singer Shakira on Monday sealed a deal with Spanish prosecutors to end her tax fraud trial, which had just opened in Barcelona, in return for an admission of guilt and a fine of 7.3 million euros.
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Under this agreement, announced on Monday by the President of the Court, the Colombian artist will receive a three-year suspended prison sentence, converted into a fine, as well as a financial sanction equal to “50%” of the amount of fraud, explained the Judge at the opening of the trial.
According to the court, this fine amounts to more than 7.3 million euros. The Colombian singer has already paid 17.2 million euros to the Spanish tax authorities in this case to regulate her situation.
When he arrived at the court around 9 a.m., the world star, dressed in a pink outfit, indicated to the judge that he acknowledged his guilt and accepted the sentences imposed. She left court immediately after the verdict was announced without commenting to the press.
However, in a press release sent out by her lawyers, the singer continues to proclaim her “innocence” and claims she chose to plead guilty to protect her career and children and avoid “years of” litigation.
“I had two options: to continue fighting to the end and risk my peace of mind and that of my children, to stop writing songs, albums and touring” or “to close this chapter of my life and leave it behind me”, she says.
“I have to pick my battles and the most important thing for me right now is to do everything I can to make sure my children live a fulfilling life and focus on what’s really important: watching them grow and having fun” , adds the singer.
The prosecution accused Shakira of not paying her taxes in Spain in 2012, 2013 and 2014, although, according to him, in those years she lived in the country for more than 183 days a year, the threshold from which a person is considered Taxpayers must be resident there for tax purposes.
He had requested a prison sentence of eight years and two months and a fine of 23.8 million euros against him.