By an agreement agreed on the morning of this Monday, November 20th, Shakira and the Spanish Ministry of Finance have closed the case against the Colombian for alleged tax fraud.
The woman from Barranquilla appeared before Spanish authorities and faced a possible prison sentence of eight years and two months for the alleged crime defrauded this country of 14.5 million euros.
(We recommend you read: Shakira reaches a settlement on taxes: She received a fine and a prison sentence, but she will not go to prison.)
During the hearing, which took place in Barcelona, The Colombian artist received a three-year prison sentence and must pay a fine of seven million euros. However, the Barranquilla woman does not have to go to prison.
The artist admitted before the said court that this was the case during the specified period Between 2012 and 2014 he was a tax resident in Spain and was obliged to comply with his tax obligations in this country.
(You may be interested in: ‘My kids asked me to do this’: Shakira explains why she accepted a fine and penalty from the Treasury.)
Likewise, Shakira admitted before a judge in Spain that she was aware of the facts underlying the charges.
🇪🇸 | URGENT: Singer Shakira agrees to pay a €7 million fine and admits in a 23-minute hearing that she committed tax fraud to avoid prison.pic.twitter.com/u8yfAGeT4d
— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) November 20, 2023
“My children asked me”; Shakira in statements after a million dollar fine
Shakira is on the bench and accused of defrauding the Treasury of 14.5 million
The Barranquilla woman explained in a statement why she accepted the fine and punishment imposed by the Spanish Ministry of Finance.
According to the artist’s statement “I felt ready to face trial and defend my innocence. My lawyers were confident that we had a successful case. 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.
(Also: An ex and the Maná singer, among the witnesses in Shakira’s trial).
The Colombian also said this after the hearing in Barcelona regarding alleged non-compliance with tax obligations in Spainand “My children asked me. I have to choose my battles And the most important thing for me now is to do everything so that my children can live a full life and concentrate on what is really important: watching them grow up and spending time with them, without exposing them to the torment of their mother seen in a criminal test with the associated wear and tear.
On the other hand, Shakira sent a harsh message to the Spanish system following the investigations carried out against her:
“I believe that this system in Spain needs to be reviewed for the benefit of its 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.”
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*With information from EFE