Columbian Superstar Shakira Has Reached An Agreement To Avoid A €14.5m Trial in Spain
The singer/songwriter will pay millions of euros in fines as part of a settlement announced on Monday, November 20, with Spanish prosecutors to settle her tax fraud case and thus avoid a trial.
Under the deal, announced at the start of what would have been the trial of the 46-year-old singer, Shakira agreed to receive a three-year suspended sentence and to pay 7.3 million euros in fines.
Shakira told the presiding magistrate, José Manuel del Amo, that she accepted the agreement reached with prosecutors. She answered “yes” to confirm her acknowledgment of six counts of failing to pay the Spanish government 14.5 million euros in taxes between 2012 and 2014.
She had previously denied all the charges, saying she only moved to Spain full time in 2015.
A statement provided by the singers public relations firm that she had wanted to fight on but put her family, career and peace of mind first.
“I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight,” she said. “I need to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love, my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career.”
Can she afford it?
According to Forbes magazine, Shakira’s fortune gathered over the years exceeds €365,530,000, she also owns several luxurious homes in various parts of the world.
