Shakira, partner of Barcelona star Gerard Pique, could be headed to a courtroom over an alleged tax fraud in Spain, after a judge ruled that there is sufficient evidence to move the case to trial.
A three-year investigation into the singer’s finances found “sufficient evidence of criminality” for the case to go to trial, Barcelona Judge Marco Juberías said.
Shakira is accused of failing to pay about $16.4 million in taxes to the state between 2012 and 2014, a period when Juberías said she spent most of her time in Spain, though her official residence was listed as the Bahamas.
Juberías also alleged that the singer and a financial advisor used multiple companies based in tax haven countries in a move to conceal Shakira’s revenue streams.
Shakira was first charged with tax evasion by Spanish authorities in 2018, and the singer maintains she is innocent and paid what she owed when she was alerted of the outstanding balance.
The 44-year-old faces a possible fine and even possible jail term if found guilty of tax evasion. However, a judge can waive prison time for first-time offenders if they are sentenced to less than two years behind bars.
According to Spanish law, anyone living in the country for more than six months in a year must pay taxes.
