Shakira battling second round of tax evasion charges
Colombian pop sensation Shakira appears to have once again gotten in trouble with the authorities.
The singer, whose real name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, is facing her second set of tax evasion charges.
Spanish prosecutors claim that in 2018, Shakira evaded taxes amounting to €6.7 million (approximately Sh1.04 billion) by not declaring substantial earnings from her El Dorado World Tour and other sources.
The second investigation into Shakira’s tax affairs was initiated by Spanish authorities in July 2023, with the details finally disclosed recently. While Shakira is reportedly aware of these new charges, her legal team in Miami, where she currently resides, has not yet been officially notified. Instead, they are focused on preparing for her upcoming trial, set to begin on November 20, related to alleged tax crimes between 2012 and 2014.
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The fresh charges revolve around the fact that in 2018, Shakira was living in Barcelona with her former partner, football star Gerard Pique. Consequently, Spanish tax laws required her to declare all her international earnings in Spain. However, prosecutors argue that she channeled her income into “companies registered in low-tax and high-secrecy jurisdictions.”
Shakira is already scheduled to face trial in Barcelona this November for six separate alleged tax offenses, dating back to the 2012-2014 period. Throughout these proceedings, she has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence that the evidence will support her innocence.
In a September interview with the Spanish edition of Elle magazine, Shakira declared, “I am confident that I have enough proof to support my case, and that justice will prevail in my favor.”
This marks the second time Shakira has found herself entangled in a legal battle over tax matters in Spain, as her legal team prepares for a double defense – one concerning the charges from 2012-2014 and another for the alleged evasion in 2018. It remains to be seen how these legal proceedings will unfold and their potential impact on the renowned singer’s career and reputation.