Colombian pop sensation Shakira is slated to begin trial in Barcelona on Monday, accused of defrauding Spain’s tax office of 14.5 million euros.
Prosecutors are seeking an eight-year, two-month jail term and a hefty fine of nearly 24 million euros ($24 million) for the 46-year-old singer, who currently resides in Miami with her two sons, Milan and Sasha.
Despite her recent success at the Latin Grammys, where she won three awards, Shakira denies any wrongdoing and has rejected a plea deal with prosecutors, paving the way for the trial scheduled to commence at 10:00 am (0900 GMT).
The case revolves around Shakira’s residency between 2012 and 2014, with prosecutors alleging that she spent more than half of that period in Spain but failed to pay taxes in the country.
They claim she officially resided in the Bahamas until 2015, even after publicly revealing her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique in 2011.
The prosecution contends that Shakira “used a set of companies” based in tax havens to intentionally avoid paying taxes in Spain.
Her defense argues that until 2014, she led a “nomadic life,” earning most of her income from international tours, and only permanently moved to Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in January 2015.
The trial is expected to last until December 14 and involve nearly 120 witnesses. While Shakira is anticipated to testify during the opening session, she may request permission not to be present at subsequent hearings.
Despite the legal challenges, Shakira celebrated her success at the Latin Grammy Awards, where she performed twice and won three awards.
Her performance included a rendition of her ballad “Acróstico,” featuring her two sons in a pre-recorded video.
The trial brings financial questions about Shakira into the spotlight, particularly after her inclusion in the 2021 “Pandora Papers” leaks, which exposed the wealth and tax avoidance strategies of the global rich.
The trial unfolds amidst Shakira’s personal life changes, including her breakup with Gerard Pique last year after a decade-long relationship.
