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Colombian music icon Shakira reached a settlement with Spanish authorities in her tax evasion case, avoiding a trial scheduled to commence on Monday. Admitting the charges against her, the Grammy-winning singer agreed to pay €17.5 million ($19 million) in total, covering the owed taxes along with interest, and an additional fine of €7.3 million ($8 million), as confirmed by the Barcelona prosecutor’s office.
Facing potential prosecution that could have led to more than eight years in prison for six counts of tax fraud, Shakira opted for the settlement, which substituted imprisonment with a payment of approximately $437 per day for a notional three-year sentence, amounting to slightly over $470,000.
During a brief ten-minute court session, a last-minute agreement was presented by all involved parties to circumvent the trial. Shakira affirmed her awareness and acceptance of the agreed fines when questioned by the judge.
In a statement from her communication team, the singer announced the resolution of the tax case, spanning the years from 2012 to 2014, and expressed her initial readiness to defend her innocence in court. However, she ultimately chose to end the legal battle, emphasizing that prolonging the case would have stolen precious years of her life and disrupted her career, leading her to decide to move forward.
Shakira voiced her contemplation of two choices: persisting in the legal dispute, jeopardizing her peace of mind and career, or concluding the chapter and focusing on her future endeavors.
