Following Shakira's rejection of a plea agreement over the allegations of tax evasion, Spanish prosecutors announced Friday that they would seek a prison term of more than eight years against the internationally renowned singer.
The 45-year-old "Hips don't Lie" singer will also be required to pay a fine of over 24 million euros ($24.5 million) after being accused by Barcelona prosecutors of defrauding the Spanish tax authority of 14.5 million euros in income between 2012 and 2014.
Shakira, whose albums have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, rejected a plea deal on Wednesday, saying in a statement released through her attorneys that she was "absolutely certain of her innocence" and had chosen to take the case to trial, "confident" that her innocence would be established.
Shakira, according to the prosecution, relocated to Spain in 2011 after her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique became well-known, yet she continued to file her taxes in the Bahamas until 2015. The two children that the couple had together announced their separation in June.
The actress criticised the prosecutor's office on Wednesday for using "abusive methods" and "completely violating her rights."
Between 2013 and 2014, Shakira appeared on the singing competition programme.The "Pandora Papers," one of the biggest financial document breaches ever, which included public people connected to offshore assets, included Shakira in its list of names in October 2021.
According to her attorneys, she moved to Spain in 2014 and began earning the majority of her income from overseas tours. A trial date has not yet been established, nor has a formal referral to court been published.
Shakira's attorneys, who represent one of the biggest names in the world of music, assert that a deal is still conceivable until the initials of the trial.