Shakira faces another criminal tax case in Spain
Barcelona, Spain - A court of inquiry in Barcelona has opened another investigation into pop singer Shakira for possible tax evasion, the Supreme Court of Catalonia announced on Thursday.
In Spain, a court of inquiry has roughly the same task as the public prosecutor's office in other countries, with judges conducting criminal investigations.
The proceedings were opened following a complaint filed by the tax office against the Colombian singer – famous for tracks such as Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) for Hips Don't Lie – for two possible offenses related to income and wealth tax in 2018, the judicial press office added. Further details were not initially made public.
Shakira has been in trouble with the Spanish tax authorities for some time. They accuse her of tax evasion totaling around $16.21 million between 2012 and 2014, which is why she is to appear in the dock in Barcelona this year.
The prosecution has requested a prison sentence of eight years and two months and a fine of $26.6 million.
The trial is to be held before the Barcelona Provincial Court.
The artist has repeatedly protested her innocence.
Shakira maintains her innocence in tax evasion scandal
In July last year, Shakira rejected an out-of-court settlement with the tax authorities of her adopted country. This paved the way for the musician's trial.
At the core of the case is the question of where the Colombian was liable to pay taxes in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
According to the judiciary, it was in Spain, because she stayed there for more than half a year in each of the three years.
The singer denies this.
Shakira asserts that she was resident in the Bahamas at the time. She repeatedly visited her partner in Spain, Barcelona football star Gerard Piqué, with whom she has two children but is separated from.
It was not until 2015 that she lived permanently in Barcelona. In addition, she had paid all taxes plus interest in the meantime, she said.
Cover photo: DAI KUROKAWA / AFP