Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Judge Recommends Shakira Face Trial for Tax Evasion


Fri 30 Jul 2021 | 09:24 AM
Yara Sameh

A judge ruled that Lebanese-Colombian superstar Shakira must face trial in Spain for tax fraud, a court document revealed Thursday.

Judge Marco Jesus Juberias had concluded a pre-trial investigation into allegations raised by prosecutors that the pop star failed to pay 14.5 million euros ($17.2 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014. It is a preliminary step before a trial is set.

The prosecutors claim Shakira was living in the Spanish northeastern region of Catalonia during those years, but her representatives argue she did not live in Spain until 2015 and has met all of her tax obligations.

In an emailed statement, the representatives stated that the court document was an expected step in the process and noted that the singer's legal team remains confident and fully cooperative with the judiciary and will not comment further.