A Spanish judge on Tuesday approved the trial of Colombian pop singer Shakira for tax evasion.
Spanish prosecutors charged the artist in 2018 with failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in income taxes between 2012 and 2014. Prosecutors are seeking eight years in prison and a heavy fine if convicted of tax evasion.
Shakira, 45, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and rejected a plea deal with authorities to avoid prosecution. His public relations firm said he had already paid all he owed and 3 million euros ($2.8 million) in interest.
The court, based in Espluj de Llobregat, near Barcelona, said Shakira would face six counts of tax evasion. A trial date has not yet been set.
The case depends on where Shakira lived during the 2012-2014 period. Barcelona prosecutors claimed that the Grammy winner spent more than half of that time in Spain and had to pay taxes in the country, even though her official residence was in the Bahamas.
Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has been linked to Spain since she started dating footballer Gerard Pique. The couple, who have two children, used to live together in Barcelona but recently ended their 11-year relationship.
Spain has cracked down on football stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past decade for failing to pay their taxes in full. We were convicted of absconding, but we both avoided prison time thanks to a ruling that allows a judge to pardon sentences of less than two years for first-time offenders.
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