MADRID — Spanish prosecutors are seeking eight years in prison for Colombian superstar Shakira in a €14.5 million tax evasion case, prosecutor’s office documents showed on Friday.
The singer, whose hits like “Hips Don’t Lie” have sold more than 80 million records worldwide, rejected a settlement offer from the public prosecutor’s office earlier this week to end the lawsuit.
She has been accused of not paying taxes between 2012 and 2014, during which Shakira says she didn’t live in Spain.
According to prosecution documents seen by Reuters, Shakira typically lived in Spain from 2012 to 2014, bought a house in Barcelona in May 2012, and lived with her and her partner in Spain in 2013. It became a family home for my son when he was born.
If convicted, he faces eight years in prison and fines of over €23 million ($23.5 million). A trial date has not yet been set.
When asked for comment, Shakira’s representative referred to an earlier statement sent Wednesday, saying she was “completely convinced of her innocence” and said the case was “full of her rights.” considered to be an infringement.
Terms of the previous settlement offer were not disclosed.
The 45-year-old singer says she first paid the €17.2 million that the Spanish tax office said she owed her, and claims she has no outstanding debts to the tax authorities.
The latest development in the tax lawsuit comes a month after Shakira and her husband, FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué, announced they were separating. Shakira, 45, and her 35-year-old Pique have been dating since 2011 and have two sons.
($1 = 0.9783 Euro)
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