Shakira has agreed on a deal with Spanish prosecutors over her alleged tax evasion, on the first day of her trial, saving her from doing any jail time.
The singer, 46, whose given name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, was set to go to court on Monday and start lengthy proceedings. She was accused of avoiding paying €14.5 million (around $15.9 million), dating back to her 2012 and 2014 residency in Spain.
Shakira was to stand trial for six alleged tax crimes, with there being widespread speculation that she could face a prison sentence if found guilty.
A new development has seen the pop star settle the matter ahead of the trial fully commencing. She paid a €7.3 million ($8 million) fine, in addition to the previously unpaid taxes and interest, according to the Associated Press. The agency also said that Shakira would receive a three-year suspended sentence, meaning she would not face jail time. It had been previously reported that she could face eight years in prison.
Newsweek has contacted Shakira’s talent manager via email for comment.
Niccolo Guasti/Getty Images
On Monday, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer accepted the agreement reached with prosecutors, acknowledging her six counts of failure to pay the Spanish government. Shakira will pay a €432,000 ($473,000) fine in exchange for waiving her prison sentence.
In a statement, she said that she “always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others.”
In the full statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly, Shakira added: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favor, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.
“I need to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love – my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career, including my upcoming world tour and my new album, both of which I am extremely excited about,” Shakira added.
The news was greeted by ‘disheartened’ social-media users who appeared angered by celebrities such as her seeming to be above the law.
One user on X, formerly Twitter, posted: “Disheartening to witness yet another high-profile figure seemingly evading the consequences of a tax fraud case through settlement. The notion of justice appears compromised when a substantial fine and suspended sentence become an alternative to a thorough trial.”
Shakira has reached a settlement in tax fraud case on the first day of trial, accepting a suspended three-year sentence and a €7 million fine:
“While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favor, I have made the… pic.twitter.com/vgToRQqmp5
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 20, 2023
A second asked: “Why do celebrities have to avoid taxes while ordinary people still have to work hard to pay taxes from their meager income?”
A third commented: “Shakira’s settlement is a slap on the wrist for a wealthy celebrity. She should be paying more in taxes, not getting away with a fine.” A Shakira fan replied: “She paid everything back in 2019 already that is on top of the 90 Million she paid dillegently.”
Other statements online included: “Pay your taxes next time,” “Send that fr@udster to jail” and “She should be arrested.”
Despite this, the star performed at the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain, on November 16, with the Colombian artist scooping two wins: Song of the Year and Best Pop Song.
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