After "fighting" for her innocence for almost five years, Shakira reached an agreement with Spanish justice. Accused of non-payment and concealment of income in an offshore company (a company registered in a jurisdiction other than your country of origin; the purpose is to benefit from favorable tax laws or economic environment in a foreign country), the singer was in serious danger of a prison sentence .
She told the presiding judge, José Manuel del Amo, that she accepts the deal with prosecutors, thus accepting the charges brought against her and the decision to pay a fine of seven million euros to the Spanish government.
According to the agreement, Shakira will receive a three-year suspended sentence, as well as pay the fine for which she has agreed with the Spanish justice.
The trial, in which more than 100 people were expected to testify in the coming days, was adjourned just eight minutes after opening because the singer immediately reached a plea deal.
Shakira said in a statement provided by her law firm that she reached a settlement for the good of her children and her career.
"I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter in the best interest of my children, who do not want to see their mother sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight," Shakira said. "I need to get past the stress and emotional pressure of the last few years and focus on the things I love, my children and all the opportunities to focus on my career," she said.
Prosecutors claimed that the Colombian artist lived more than half of the 2012-2014 period in Spain and therefore should have paid taxes in the country, even though her official residence was in the Bahamas.
The Colombian artist has two children, Milan, 10 years old, and Sasha, 8 years old, from her relationship with her ex-partner, Gerard Pique.
Source: Page Six
