Guernsey Press

Shakira settles case with tax authorities in Spain ‘for her kids’

Spanish prosecutors had alleged that she failed to pay more than 14.5 million euros (£13 million) between 2012 and 2014.

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Shakira has said that she has resolved a long-running tax dispute with Spanish authorities.

The 46-year-old singer had previously been charged with tax evasion and had attended the first day of her trial in Barcelona on Monday.

Shakira accepted the charges and has now been fined more than £6 million, the court heard.

In a statement to the PA news agency, the Hips Don’t Lie singer said: “Throughout my career, I have always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others.

Spain Shakira Taxes
Shakira said she wanted to move past the stress and emotional toll of the past few years (AP)

“Unfortunately, and despite these efforts, tax authorities in Spain pursued a case against me as they have against many professional athletes and other high-profile individuals, draining those people’s energy, time, and tranquillity for years at a time.

MTV Video Music Awards 2023 – Arrivals – New Jersey
Shakira with her sons Milan and Sasha (Doug Peters/PA)

“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.

“I admire tremendously those who have fought these injustices to the end, but for me, today, winning is getting my time back for my kids and my career.”

Shakira shares two sons, Milan and Sasha, from a previous relationship with footballer Gerard Pique.

On Monday, she answered “yes” to confirm her acknowledgement of six counts of failing to pay the Spanish government taxes at a court presided over by magistrate Jose Manuel del Amos.

The AP news agency reported that she received a suspended three-year sentence and a fine of seven million euros (£6,127,054) following prosecutors seeking an eight-year prison sentence.

The trial, which was expected to last several weeks, was called off after just eight minutes following an agreement being reached.

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