Shakira is set to face trial in Spain on charges of tax fraud
Shortly after her triumph at the Latin Grammys, Colombian pop sensation Shakira is scheduled to face trial in Barcelona on Monday, accused of defrauding Spain’s tax office of 14.5 million euros.
Prosecutors are pushing for an eight-year and two-month jail term, along with a fine of nearly 24 million euros ($24 million), for the 46-year-old singer, who currently resides in Miami with her two sons, Milan and Sasha.
Despite residing in Miami, Shakira has denied any wrongdoing and rejected a plea deal with prosecutors, leading to the commencement of the trial at 10:00 am (0900 GMT) on Monday.
The case revolves around the singer's residency between 2012 and 2014, a period during which she produced hit singles such as “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever,” and the 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka.”
Prosecutors claim that Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, often referred to as the Queen of Latin Pop, spent over half of the specified period in Spain and should have fulfilled tax obligations in the country.
According to the allegations, she relocated to Spain in 2011 following the public disclosure of her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. However, the prosecution contends that she retained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.
In their indictment, prosecutors assert that Shakira "utilized a network of companies" located in tax havens "with the purpose of evading" tax payments in Spain.
Hairstylist Payments
Shakira's legal team contends that until 2014, she led a "nomadic life," primarily earning income from international tours. They assert that she only established permanent residence in Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in January 2015.
The high-profile trial is anticipated to feature testimony from nearly 120 witnesses and is scheduled to continue until December 14.
Although the singer is expected to testify during the trial's initial session, she may seek court permission to be excused from subsequent hearings.
Even in her absence, the trial is likely to reveal details of her personal life, given the meticulous investigation conducted by Spanish prosecutors to substantiate their case.
They conducted interviews with her neighbors, monitored her presence on social media, scrutinized her transactions at hair salons, and even examined the healthcare facility she visited during her pregnancy to substantiate their allegations.
Not a UN Diplomat
Inquiries into the singer's financial affairs have surfaced previously. The diva featured in the 2021 "Pandora Papers" leaks, exposing the wealth and tax avoidance tactics of the global elite, particularly concerning her residence in the Bahamas.
The trial follows a significant night for Shakira at the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, southern Spain, where she performed twice and secured three awards, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Song for her collaboration with Argentine DJ Bizarrap on "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53."
The track takes jabs at her former partner Pique — the couple separated last year after a decade-long relationship — and makes a reference to being burdened with a "debt to the tax office." It has garnered nearly 1.5 billion plays on Spotify and YouTube.
People on my team attempted to persuade me to alter the lyrics, but I'm not a UN diplomat. I am an artist and, above all, a woman," Shakira stated in an interview featured in the Spanish celebrity magazine ¡Hola!, where she made no mention of her impending trial.
One of the standout moments at the Latin Grammys was her rendition of the ballad "Acróstico." Clad in a shimmering gold high-cut gown adorned with an image of the Virgin Mary, the singer delivered a performance of the song, with her two sons (fathered with Pique) making an appearance in a pre-recorded video on screen, joining her in singing it.
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