Sizwe Sibiya
Colombian-born popstar Shakira is facing up to eight years in prison and a R400 million fine if she is found guilty in a trial for tax fraud in Spain.
Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, is charged with failing to pay the Spanish government 14.5 million euros (almost R250 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014.
The star who sang the “Waka Waka (It’s Time for Africa)” official song at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa goes on trial this week after rejecting a settlement deal with the prosecutor’s office.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer comes from the city of Barranquilla in Colombia but she has been a resident in Barcelona since before 2010.
Her lawyers have argued that she shouldn’t be taxed because she was not a resident of Spain during those years. She claimed she had been a tax resident of the Bahamas until 2015.
The Spanish prosecutors claimed she stayed in Spain more than 184 days between those three years, making her a resident of Barcelona as stipulated by Spanish law.
Prosecutors in Spain disclosed six charges against Shakira after she rejected a settlement deal last week, reported El País.
Shakira, who has two children with Pique, a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona, continues to strive as one of the most followed artists globally. On 27 July the pop star celebrated 200 million Spotify streams of her latest song titled “Te Felecito” featuring Rauw Alejandro.
She was in the headlines earlier this year when her 11-year relationship with Piquecame to an end.
Image source: Instagram
