POP sensation Shakira has admitted to six counts of £12.7m tax fraud as she reached a settlement with prosecutors to avoid jail time.
A lengthy trial was set to begin today, but the pop star struck a last-minute deal to end proceedings.
The singer said her children played a key role in her decision to settle.
Speaking this morning she said: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal wellbeing in this fight."
She had been summoned to a Barcelona courthouse and faced spending eight years behind bars for allegedly defrauding Spanish tax officials between 2012 and 2014.
Following the deal, the Colombian singer will now face fines, rather than jail time, Reuters reports.
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- By Henry Moore
Fans hail ‘generational s***housery’ as Sergio Ramos gives Shakira award for Gerard Pique ‘diss track’
Football and music fans came together to hail Shakira and Sergio Ramos' "generational s***housery" this week.
The Colombian singer, 46, wowed on the red carpet in Spain as she scooped three prizes at the Latin Grammy Awards last night.
Several of Shakira's most recent singles appear to be swipes aimed at her ex Pique, including The Boss.
And fans couldn't believe it when Pique's longtime rival Ramos presented Shakira with an award for the song.
'GENERATIONAL S***HOUSERY' Fans go wild as Ramos gives Shakira award for Pique 'diss track'
- By Henry Moore
Shakira previously turned down a settlement deal
Shakira turned down a deal offered to her by prosecutors to settle her case in July 2022.
At the time, she said, via her Spanish public relations firm Llorente y Cuenca, that she believed in her innocence and chose to leave the issue in the hands of the law.
The details of this proposed deal are not available to the public.
- By Henry Moore
More on Shakira's settlement
Under today's deal, Shakira is to receive a suspended three-year sentence and a multi-million euro fine, reports AP.
The trial, which would have included more than 100 witnesses over the following weeks, was instead called off after just eight minutes.
Shakira blew kisses to onlookers as she arrived at court this morning, donning a pink suit.
- By Henry Moore
Do Shakira and Gerard Pique have any children?
After 12 years together, Shakira and Pique share two children together, Milan and Sasha.
Following her tax fraud deal, Shakira reaffirmed her commitment to her children.
She said: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal wellbeing in this fight.
“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.”
- By Henry Moore
Why did Shakira and Gerard Pique split?
On June 6, 2022, Shakira and Gerard Pique announced they had split up.
The revelation came after reports that the footballer had strayed.
A statement released via Shakira's publicist read: “We regret to confirm that we are parting ways.
"For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy. Thank you for your understanding."
- By Henry Moore
What has Shakira been accused of 2/2
In the written document they accuse the artist, real name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, of living in Spain “on a regular basis” during the tax years 2012 to 2014.
First at former Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique’s Barcelona bachelor flat and then at a mansion she bought with her former partner in Esplugues de Llobregat near the Catalan capital through an investment firm.
They claim her absences from Spain for work and other reasons were “sporadic” apart from a period of 61 days she spent in the States in 2012 when she was a coach on the US version of the singing competition The Voice.
- By Henry Moore
What was Shakira accused of?
Shakira had been accused of £12.7m in tax fraud by Spanish authorities.
Spanish state prosecutors announced in a pre-trial indictment they were seeking an eight-year, two-month jail term for Shakira and a fine of nearly £21 million if judges found her guilty of six counts of tax fraud she allegedly committed in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
However, the star reached a settlement agreement before the trial could begin.
- By Henry Moore
Kids played key role in decision to settle
Speaking after her settlement this morning, Shakira revealed her children played a key role in her decision to not fight for her innocence.
She said: “While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal wellbeing in this fight.
“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."
- By Henry Moore
Shakira breaks silence after settlement agreement
In a statement, Shakira told the PA news agency: "Throughout my career, I have always strived to do what's right and set a positive example for others.
"That often means taking the extra step in business and personal financial decisions to procure the absolute best counsel, including seeking the advice of the world's pre-eminent tax authorities PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited and Ernst & Young Global Limited, who have been my advisers during this whole process.
"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.
"While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal wellbeing in this fight.
"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."
- By Henry Moore
Pop star looked confident ahead of trial
She was pictured walking into Barcelona’s Provincial Court wearing an eye-catching pink trouser suit and matching pink designer handbag just after 10am local time accompanied by her lawyer Pau Molins.
She blew a kiss to onlookers before she headed up the court steps and disappeared into the building, looking calm and relaxed.
The 46-year-old faced six counts of failing to pay £12.7million in taxes between 2012 and 2014.
- By Henry Moore
Shakira reaches deal to avoid jail time as she admits to tax fraud
Shakira has this morning reached a deal to avoid jail time as she admitted to six counts of tax fraud in Spain.
The Colombian singer was set to take part in a lengthy trial but reached a settlement with the courts this morning.
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