Shakira rejects prosecutor agreement, decides to face fraud trial

Barcelona, Spain, Jul 27 (EFE).- Colombian singer Shakira has rejected an agreement offered by Spanish prosecutors and opted to face trial for charges of tax fraud, the world-famous artist’s public relations agency said Wednesday.

Shakira’s legal team held talks with prosecutors in Barcelona, who offered the singer an agreement to reduce her sentence over alleged tax fraud.

But the popstar said she was choosing to face trial because she felt “confident” about her innocence and that the law would be on her side.

Shakira will be tried for allegedly defrauding the Spanish tax agency of 14.5 million euros.

State prosecutors have accused her of avoiding income and corporate tax payments between 2012-14 by declaring her residency outside Spain and using a network of companies based in tax havens.

The singer has insisted her tax conduct has been impeccable and claims she was living in the Bahamas, where there is no income tax, and that she had only visited Spain sporadically in that time.

Earlier this year, a Spanish court dismissed an appeal lodged by Shakira’s defense team and said there was sufficient evidence the singer had failed to pay the tax.

Shakira has already paid the 14.5 million euros to the Spanish tax authorities, plus a further three million in interest, but will still have to face trial. EFE

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