Colombian pop star Shakira is facing a potential eight-year prison sentence in Spain after being charged with tax fraud in the European country. The singer lived in Barcelona with her ex-partner and family for the past eleven years.
According to the Spanish government, Shakira failed to pay 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014, and she will have six separate charges brought against her. Prosecutors announced they will also be seeking a 24 million euro fine.
The case could have been settled in a plea deal earlier this week, but the Colombian singer and her legal team rejected the terms, choosing to take the case to court. Shakira pleads her innocence and claims to have deposited the full amount owed along with 3 million euros in interest.
The case centers around whether Shakira was legally resident in Spain during the contested period of time. Prosecutors claim she was resident for over six months in each year, making her liable for the taxes, while the singer denies she was in the country for long enough. No date has been set for the trial yet.
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