28.2 C
Accra
Saturday, February 15, 2025
WorldShakira: Prosecutor seeks eight-year sentence for star over tax evasion

Date:

Shakira: Prosecutor seeks eight-year sentence for star over tax evasion

Spanish prosecutors are seeking eight years in prison and a €24m (£20m) fine for Shakira over alleged tax fraud.

The Colombian singer is accused of failing to pay €14.5m (£12m) in tax between 2012 and 2014.

Earlier this week Shakira refused an offer to settle and close the case. A trial date has not yet been set.

A statement from representatives of Shakira said she is “fully confident of her innocence” and sees the case as a “violation of her rights”.

The star was accused of tax evasion in 2018. Prosecutors said she was living in Spain between 2012 and 2014 while listing her official residence elsewhere.

People who spend more than six months in the country are considered residents for tax purposes. But Shakira says she did not mainly live in Spain at the time.

A document from prosecutors seen by Reuters claims Shakira bought a house in Barcelona in 2012, which became a family home for her and her then-partner, Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué.

It asks for an eight-year prison sentence and a €23.8 (£20m) fine if the singer is found guilty.

The terms of the earlier settlement offer she rejected are not known. Shakira has said she repaid the money authorities said she owed, plus interest.

Officials demanded a tax bill from all her global income during the relevant period, not just that generated in Spain.

She declared Spain to be her place of residence for tax purposes in 2015.

In a separate case in 2019, her former husband Gerard Piqué was fined €2.1m (£1.8m) by the Spanish national court for evading tax between 2008 and 2010.

The couple announced in early June that they had split up.

Shakira, 45, and Piqué, 35, had been together for 11 years and have two sons, aged seven and nine.

Source: BBC

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

NSA, National Sports College to introduce Sports Psychology course in March

National Sports College (NSC) and the National Sports Authority...

Termination of post Dec 7 appointments unjust and illegal – NPP to NDC

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticized...

Fugitive tag on Ofori-Atta is a serious business – Deputy A-G designate

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana School...

I didn’t spend GHS173 on purchasing office furniture – Sammy Gyamfi clarifies

The Acting Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing...

CCTV footage have exposed lies in OSP’s account – Martin Amidu

Former Attorney General Martin Amidu asserts that the recently...

Related stories

“I still consider it my biggest failure” – Bill Gates on life after divorce

Bill Gates is speaking candidly about his divorce from Melinda French...

Kanye West reclaims title as wealthiest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z

Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the...

Meta offers TikTokers $5,000 to join Facebook, Instagram

Social media giant Meta has offered to pay up...

About 1,600 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump

President Donald Trump has issued pardons or commuted sentences...

LIVESTREAMING: Swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump

Today marks the beginning of Donald Trump's second term...

Inauguration Day schedule for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony today

Donald Trump will take the oath of office today...

WhatsApp to stop working on these devices in 2025

WhatsApp will soon cease supporting 18 Android models and...