Shakira may face eight years in Spanish prison on tax fraud charges
Earlier today, prosecutors in Spain were asking the courts to sentence singing pop star Shakira to eight years and two months in the slammer if she’s found guilty of tax fraud. The 45-year-old Columbian entertainer has been charged with failing to pay the Spanish government 14.5 million euros ($15 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014. The prosecutors said they would also seek a fine of 24 million euros ($24 million).
The indictment details six charges against Shakira. The singer this week rejected a settlement deal offered by prosecutors, opting to go to trial instead. A trial date has yet to be set. ~ ABC News
According to the Spanish prosecutors in Barcelona going after the Grammy winner, they contend that Shakira lived in Spain for more than six months each year during the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 – so, she needed to pay taxes to that country, but did not. The Huffington Post reports Shakira’s camp as denying the residence claims made by the Spanish government, and that the singer, “did not live in Spain and was on various international tours during the years in question.” According to Shakira’s defense team, the singer maintained her official residence in the Bahamas until at least 2015.
Shakira, full name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, recently broke out of an 11-year-long relationship with FC Barcelona star Gerard Piqué. The couple has two children together; and they used to live in Spain, according to MSN.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
