Singer Shakira on Monday struck a deal with the Spanish prosecutor’s office ending her investigation into tax fraud that began in Barcelona in exchange for pleading guilty and being fined 7.3 million euros.
• Read more: Shakira before judges in Spain accused of tax fraud
As part of the deal, announced Monday by the president of the court, the Colombian artist is sentenced to a three-year suspended prison sentence, which will be commuted to a fine, and financial sanction fraud equal to “50%”, the judge announced at the beginning of the trial.
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According to the information provided by the court, this fine is more than 7.3 million euros. The Colombian singer has already paid 17.2 million euros to the Spanish tax authorities in this case in order to regulate her situation.
The world star arrived at the court around 9am, dressed in pink, and told the judge that she had pleaded guilty and accepted the sentence. After the sentence was announced, he left the court without giving any statement to the press.
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However, in a press release sent out by her lawyers, the singer continues to maintain her “innocence” and says she pleaded guilty to protect her life and her children by avoiding “years” of legal action.
“I had two options: fight to the end, it affects my and my children’s peace of mind, stop making songs, albums and tours” or “close this chapter of my life and leave,” he says.
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“I have to choose my battles, and the most important thing for me right now is to do everything I can to make sure my kids live life to the fullest and focus on what’s really important: seeing them grow up and have fun,” the singer says.
The prosecution alleged that Shakira did not pay her taxes in Spain in 2012, 2013 and 2014, according to her, she lived in the country for more than 183 days a year in those years, beyond which a person should be considered. A tax resident there.
He demanded a prison sentence of eight years and two months and a fine of 23.8 million euros against him.
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