Shakira may have won in a second probe related to her tax affairs in Spain. The 47-year-old Latin music icon faced allegations of a tax liability amounting to $7.2 million for her 2018 earnings through an offshore entity.
Spanish prosecutors reportedly suggested to drop the second probe on Wednesday, citing insufficient evidence to support further legal action, as reported by AP. It now falls upon the investigating judge to determine the fate of the investigation and whether the case warrants further legal proceedings or should be ultimately dismissed.
After an agreement reached in November 2023 between the mom-of-two and the authorities regarding taxes owed from 2012 to 2014, the "Waka Waka" singer received a suspended three-year sentence and a hefty fine of around $7.6 million.
In July 2023, Spanish prosecutors initiated a new legal proceeding targeting the singer for allegedly employing a series of companies, including those in offshore tax havens, to defraud the Spanish tax authorities in 2018.
Shakira's representatives disclosed the information after the songstress settled the matter with the court in August, according to a report published by the El Periodico newspaper.
As the newspaper stated, Shakira's payment does not serve as an admission of guilt or innocence regarding the singer's situation. It showcases her commitment to settling any outstanding dues with the Spanish tax authorities. In July 2023, officials announced they were investigating Shakira for potential tax fraud in 2018.
A spokesperson for the High Court said, "Court of Instruction Number 2 in Esplugues de Llobregat has opened a procedure following a complaint presented by prosecutors against the singer Shakira for two suspected tax crimes related to income tax and wealth tax for the Spanish tax year of 2018."
In a statement at a court session in Barcelona, Shakira revealed her involvement in tax fraud from 2012 to 2014 and said she did it for her two kids, Milan and Sasha.
"I have to choose my battles, and the most important thing for me right now is that my children live a full life, and I focus on what is really important: watching them grow and spending time with them without subjecting them to the anguish of seeing their mother in a court trial and the damage that causes."
She continued, "They themselves asked me to do this and I've taken this decision for them."
In her critique of the Spanish tax system, the "Underneath Your Clothes" singer remarked, "I feel the system in Spain needs to be revised for the benefit of its citizens."
"There are a lot of people who cannot afford to pay for good defense lawyers or even reach an out-of-court settlement and have seen their lives crumble in front of them because of discrepancies with the Spanish Treasury."
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