A star soon behind bars?

Barcelona's public prosecutor's office announced on Friday that they would seek more than eight years in prison for tax evasion against Shakira, who refuses any agreement and says she is ready to go to trial.

In its indictment, which AFP was able to consult, the prosecution also indicates that it will claim nearly 24 million euros in fines from the singer, accused of having subtracted 14.5 million euros. euros to the Spanish tax authorities between 2012 and 2014. Justice must now decide whether to hold a trial and when.

Shakira, who claims her innocence, said Wednesday that she would refuse to seal an agreement with the prosecution, saying she would prefer a trial to this plea-guilty procedure.

According to his lawyers, the possibility of reaching an agreement remains open until the opening of the hearing in a court in Barcelona, ​​while the formal dismissal of the star, aged 45, has not yet been pronounced.

The singer, who denounces a "total violation of her rights" and "abusive methods" on the part of the prosecution, is "confident in the fact that justice will give her reason", had indicated her advice on Wednesday in a press release.

A waiver of proceedings refused

The prosecution accuses the interpreter of

Waka Waka

of tax fraud of 14.5 million euros over the years from 2012 to 2014. According to the prosecution, Shakira had been living in Spain since 2011, when her relationship with the footballer of FC Barcelona Gerard Pique was made public, but had maintained his tax residence in the Bahamas Islands, considered a tax haven, until 2015.

Shakira's lawyers believe that until 2014 most of her income came from her international tours and that she lived no more than six months a year in Spain, a requirement to establish her tax residence in Spain. the country.

In May, a court in Barcelona rejected an appeal from the singer who demanded that the charges be dropped.

Shakira's name is among those cited in the Pandora Papers, a vast investigation published at the end of 2021 by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, accusing several hundred personalities of having concealed assets in offshore companies, in particular for the purpose of 'tax evasion.

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  • tax evasion

  • Spain

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  • Gerard pricks

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