Shakira has reached a deal with Spanish prosecutors to settle a tax fraud case, just as her trial was about to begin.
According to BBC News, the singer has paid a €7.5m fine – prosecutors had wanted to jail her for eight years and fine her €23.8m if found guilty.
She was facing tax fraud allegations for €14.5m in a Barcelona court.
At the centre of the row was the singer’s residency status between 2012 and 2014 – prosecutors alleged that she was living in Spain but listed her official residence elsewhere.
Under Spanish law, people who spend more than six months in the country are considered residents for tax purposes, however Shakira says Spain was not where she was mainly living at the time.
Previously, she rejected a deal offered by prosecutors, instead opting to go to trial.
Now, she says she settled “with the best interest of my kids at heart”.
In a statement she said, “Throughout my career, I have always strived to do what’s right and set a positive example for others. Unfortunately, and despite these efforts, tax authorities in Spain pursued a case against me as they have against many professional athletes and other high-profile individuals, draining those people’s energy, time, and tranquillity for years at a time. While I was determined to defend my innocence in a trial that my lawyers were confident would have ruled in my favour, I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interest of my kids at heart who do not want to see their mom sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.”
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