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Shakira feels “violated” after Spanish tax authorities accused her of defrauding her of £12m.
The singer and her legal team said in a statement released on Friday (25.11.22) that she could be jailed for up to eight years if convicted.
Shakira, 45, said: “It is unacceptable that the tax authorities, in their charges, have failed to respect the legal certainty that must be guaranteed to any taxpayer, not my fundamental rights.
“Beyond that, they’re trying to destroy the reputation they’ve worked to earn over the years … In my case, they’re violating my right to privacy and the presumption of innocence, which are fundamental rights of any citizen.”
She added that Spain’s finance ministry had used unorthodox methods in its investigation of her, such as soliciting private data from the hospital where the singer requested an appointment, and said their case was part of a “contrived story”.
The mum-of-two added that “unacceptable methods” were used to damage her reputation and force her into a settlement, insisting she would not make any deals and would face trial.
Shakira’s lawyer, Pablo Molins Amat, submitted her legal statement to a Barcelona court that has been investigating her.
The singer, who shares sons Milan, nine, and Sasha, seven, with ex-footballer Gerard Piqué, 35, has paid the Spanish taxman alleging she defrauded her. Six figure interest.
But as well as the eight-year sentence, state prosecutors want Shakira – born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll – to be fined £19.2m if convicted.
She is accused of pretending to be living abroad and using offshore corporate account structures to avoid her tax obligations from 2012 to 2014.
A statement released by Barcelona-based LLYC on Friday (25/11/22) also referred to the case: “Shakira is a taxpayer who has always demonstrated impeccable tax behavior and has never Any other jurisdictions in which tax issues have been encountered.
“The singer relied on top advisors such as PwC. She never exceeded the 183-day tax residency requirement in Spain.
“With no solid evidence to support the charges against her, she has been severely persecuted in the criminal and media spheres, using unacceptable means to damage her reputation and force her to reach a settlement.
“Shakira has paid more than 90 million euros for international income and her international assets that were not generated in Spain and had no business center in a country where she never earned a substantial income… Shakira Wishing to express her absolute confidence in the independence of the Spanish judiciary and her conviction that, following the trial, she will be completely innocent.”
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