Barcelona Judge Opens a Second Case Against Shakira for Alleged Tax Fraud

Today it was reported that a judge in Barcelona, as a result of a complaint from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has opened a second accusation against Shakira for tax fraud. In this case, she is accused of irregularities in the income tax and wealth declaration for the year 2018.

The first accusation was under investigation for allegedly simulating that she lived outside Spain when she was already residing with Gerard Piqué. The trial for this first case is scheduled for November of this year. The judge accuses her of allegedly defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014. For this case, she faces up to 8 years and 2 months in prison, a financial fine of 23.7 million euros, and 18 years without being able to receive tax benefits in Spain.

The Colombian singer declined to reach an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office to avoid the trial for tax fraud. Instead, she expressed her determination to face the trial, stating that she “fully trusted her innocence.”

She denounces a media witch hunt

Shakira has claimed to be the victim of a media witch hunt. She exonerated herself, arguing that she always acted in accordance with legal parameters and “advised by the best tax advisors.” In a statement, her lawyer has complained that they have not received any notification from the court and learned about the complaint through the press. According to her defense team, this fact shows “the media and reputational pressure she is subjected to.”

The lawyers have stated that it is “publicly known that Shakira now lives in Miami for months” and that they communicated this to the Spanish Tax Agency at the time. Therefore, they believe that “the notification should be delivered personally to her home.”

The Colombian singer referred to her problems with the Spanish Tax Agency in one of the songs she dedicated to her ex-husband Gerard Piqué. In January of this year, as a result of a collaboration with Bizarrap, she released Session #53. The success was resounding and had more than 344 million views on YouTube in the first month alone.

Through her communication agency, the Barranquilla-born artist criticized the “methods of the Tax Agency.” She also mentioned having paid more than 90 million euros for worldwide income not generated in Spain. She claimed not to have received significant tax benefits in that country. Similarly, she complained that the Spanish Tax Agency did not guarantee her fundamental rights, referring to her right to privacy and the presumption of innocence.

Nevertheless, the diva has always stated that she trusts in being able to prove her innocence.