Shakira, the Colombian pop star, is facing charges of defrauding the Spanish treasury between 2012 and 2014 and could be sentenced to more than eight years in prison. The allegations suggest that she falsely claimed not to be living in Spain during that period while residing with her then-partner, Gerard Pique, while he played for Barcelona. In addition to the potential prison sentence, state prosecutors are seeking a fine of €23 million ($27.4 million). The trial is scheduled to start on November 20 and is expected to take place over 12 sessions, with the last day set for December 14.
Shakira's ex-partner Gerard Pique is not expected to testify in the trial, and Shakira may be allowed to return home after testifying from the stand at the beginning of the proceedings. News of the trial date came shortly after Pique arrived in Miami to spend time with their two children, marking his first visit to the US since they left Spain.
Before moving to Miami, Shakira accused Spanish tax authorities of using "unacceptable methods" to damage her reputation and force her to settle. She denied lying about residing outside Spain and insisted that she had no intention of making a plea bargain deal. Shakira had previously been a tax resident of the Bahamas and only became a full-time tax resident of Spain in 2015, despite dating Pique for five years.
Spanish tax inspectors spent over a year investigating Shakira's residency status, even checking her social media and visiting her favorite hairdressers in Barcelona. They ultimately charged her with six counts of tax fraud, claiming she spent 242 days in Spain in 2012, 212 days in 2013, and 243 days in 2014.
In a statement released by her publicists, Shakira denied the charges, insisting that she had never exceeded the 183 days of presence in Spain required to be a tax resident and had always shown "impeccable tax conduct." She also claimed to have paid more than €90 million ($107 million) for international income not generated in Spain and for her international assets. Despite the allegations, Shakira maintains her innocence and believes that it will be proven in court.
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