Singer Shakira on Monday sealed an agreement with the Spanish prosecutor’s office ending her trial for tax fraud, which had just opened in Barcelona, in exchange for recognition of her guilt and a fine of 7.3 million euros.
As part of this agreement, announced Monday by the president of the court, the Colombian artist receives a three-year suspended prison sentence, which will be commuted to a fine, and a financial sanction of an amount equivalent to “50%” of the fraud, declared the judge at the opening of the trial.
According to information communicated by 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, with a view to regularizing her situation.
Arriving at the court around 9 a.m., the global star, dressed in a pink outfit, indicated to the judge that he recognized his guilt and accepted the sentences imposed. She left the court as soon as the sentence was pronounced, without making any statements to the press.
In a press release sent by her lawyers, the singer, however, continues to proclaim her “innocence” and claims to have chosen to admit guilt to protect her career as well as her children, by avoiding “years” of legal proceedings. .
“I had two options: continue to fight to the end, jeopardizing my peace of mind and that of my children, stop making songs, albums and tours” or “close and leave this chapter behind me of my life,” she says.
“I have to choose my battles and the most important one for me right now is to do everything I can to make sure my kids live a full life and focus on what’s really important: seeing them grow and have fun,” adds the singer.
The prosecution accused Shakira of not having paid her taxes in Spain in 2012, 2013 and 2014 when, according to him, she had lived in those years more than 183 days per year in the country, the threshold beyond which a person must be considered as a tax resident there.
He had requested a sentence of eight years and two months in prison and a fine of 23.8 million euros against him.