A Spanish prosecutor is seeking an eight-year jail term for Colombian superstar Shakira over a 14.5 million-euro tax evasion case. She is accused of failing to pay taxes between 2012 and 2014, a period in which Shakira says she did not live in Spain.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer had, earlier this week, rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor’s office to close the case.
According to the prosecutor’s documents, Shakira was resident in Spain between 2012 and 2014 and in May 2012 bought a house in Barcelona which became a family home for herself, her partner and their son born in Spain in 2013.
The prosecution asked for an eight-year prison sentence and a fine of more than 23 million euros (N9.7 billion) if the star is found guilty. No date for a trial has been set yet.
In response to the charge, Shakira’s representatives referred to a previous statement sent out on Wednesday, 27th July. It read in part Shakira “is fully confident of her innocence” and that she considers the case “a total violation of her rights“.
The ‘Queen of Latin Pop‘ and she is called, has sold over 80 million records. She insists she does not have any outstanding debts with the authorities after paying 17.2 million euros that the Spanish tax office said she owed.
This latest development in the tax evasion case comes a month after Shakira and her husband, Gerard Pique, announced they were separating. Shakira, 45, and FC Barcelona’s Pique, 35, have been together since 2011 and have two sons.
Story: Makcit Rindap
Media: @shakira/twitter
