A Spanish judge ordered the trial of Colombian pop artist Shakira on tax fraud allegations on Tuesday.
In 2018, Spanish authorities charged the actor with failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in taxes on earnings between 2012 and 2014. If she is guilty of tax evasion, prosecutors seek an eight-year sentence and a hefty fine.
Shakira, 45, has constantly denied any wrongdoing and turned down a plea bargain with authorities to avoid going to trial. According to her public relations firm, she has already paid off all her debts and an extra 3 million euros ($2.8 million) in interest.
Pop diva Shakira could face up to 8 years in prison in a Spanish tax fraud prosecution.
Shakira will face six counts of tax scam, according to the Esplugues de Llobregat court near Barcelona. The trial date has yet to be decided.
The case is based on where Shakira lived between 2012 and 2014. Prosecutors in Barcelona claim the Grammy winner spent more than half of that time in Spain and should have paid taxes there, even though her official residence was in the Bahamas.
Since she began dating soccer player Gerard Pique, Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has been linked to Spain. The couple, who have two children, lived together in Barcelona for 11 years before calling it quits.
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