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Shakira Faces 8-Year Jail Sentence In Tax Evasion Case After Rejecting Plea Deal

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As a substitute of accepting a plea deal, Shakira can have her day in court docket. Prosecutors in Spain have accused Shakira, 45, of defrauding the federal government of 14.5 million euros ($15 million) in taxes whereas dwelling within the nation from 2012 to 2014, per Reuters. Earlier this week, she rejected a settlement provide from the prosecutor’s workplace. She claims, per Reuters, that she didn’t reside in Spain throughout that point.

The doc, in keeping with Reuters, claims that Shakira was “ordinarily resident in Spain between 2012 and 2014 and in Could 2012 purchased a home in Barcelona which turned a household dwelling for herself, her companion [Gerard Piqué] and their son [Milan Piqué] born in Spain in 2013.” Shakira (full identify Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) had her official residence listed within the Bahamas throughout that point, per Billboard. Prosecutors are asking for an eight-year jail sentence and a superb of greater than 23 million Euros ($23.5 million) if she’s discovered responsible. A trial date has but to be set.

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Shakira “is absolutely assured of her innocence,” a rep for the singer informed Reuters, and he or she considers the case a “complete violation of her rights.” She additionally “trusts her innocence and chooses to go away the problem within the fingers of the regulation,” the PR agency Llorente y Cuenca stated in an announcement, per Billboard. Shakira claims that she initially paid the 17.2 million euros that the Spanish tax workplace stated she owed and has no excellent debt with the tax company.

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SShakira’ssituation mirrors what many soccer stars in Spain have confronted prior to now. Lionel Messi, whereas taking part in for FC Barcelona, was hit with a 21-month jail sentence after being discovered responsible of defrauding Spain of €4.1m between 2007 and 2009, per BBC. However, Messi was by no means anticipated to serve a day in jail as a result of, underneath the Spanish judicial system, jail phrases underneath two years will be served underneath probation.

This growth comes virtually two months after Shakira and Gerard, 35, introduced their separation after 11 years collectively. “We remorse to substantiate that we’re separating,” the couple said in a statement launched by Shakira’s public relations agency. “For the well-being of our kids, who’re our highest precedence, we ask that you simply respect our privateness. Thanks in your understanding.”

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