Pop star Shakira reaches deal to avoid $15 million tax fraud trial in Spain
The Hindu
Shakira settles Spanish tax fraud charges, accepting a fine of 7.3M euros and 438K to avoid prison. She was accused of failing to pay 14.5M euros in taxes between 2012-14. Judge asked if she accepted the new penalties, to which she replied yes. She had previously vowed to fight the false accusations. Other celebrities have faced similar charges, settling and paying large fines, while Xabi Alonso won his trial.
Colombian pop star Shakira on November 290 reached a settlement with prosecutors to avoid a trial in Barcelona over charges she failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) in Spanish income tax between 2012 and 2014.
As part of the deal, she accepted the charges and a fine of 50% of the amount owed, more than 7.3 million euros.
She also accepted another fine of 438,000 euros to avoid a three-year prison sentence, the judge said during the trial's first hearing.
"Do you recognise the facts and conform with the new penalties that have been requested?" asked Judge Jose Manuel del Amo Sanchez. "Yes," Shakira responded.
Wearing a pink suit, matched with a pink handbag and sunglasses, she arrived minutes before 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) accompanied by her lawyers, amid a media frenzy. On Thursday night Shakira won two Latin Grammy awards in Seville.
Previously, the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer, who also has a second tax fraud investigation pending with Spanish authorities, had vowed to fight what she called false accusations.
The prosecutor's office was seeking an up to eight-year prison term and to claim back the taxes it says she owes.
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