By Blessing Udeobasi
A Spanish prosecutor has called for popular Columbian singer Shakira to be fined more than €23 million and over eight years prison sentence for the alleged tax fraud.
According to a Friday report by a Spanish newspaper El Pais, the singer is allegedly involved in a €14.5 million tax fraud case and the prosecutor’s office has asked for a prison sentence of eight years and two months for six alleged crimes against the Public Treasury.
As reported by Reuters, the Colombian star with real name, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripollr is accused of failing to pay taxes in the country between 2012 and 2014 but she is claiming she did not live in Spain during this period.
The star insists she had legal residency in the Bahamas during the time period, and did not spend 183 days or more per year in Spain, which is the threshold to be considered a tax resident.
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She has been accused of ‘hiding’ her income by using tax havens, which Shakira flatly denies; she is seeking a full acquittal of all offences.
A representative for the star told Metro.co.uk: ‘Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm.
“Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case.
“Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process.”
The call for a prison sentence comes days after the pop act reportedly rejected an offer from the prosecutor’s office to make a settlement and close the case.
