Pop singer Shakira reached a deal with Spanish prosecutors on what would have been the first day of her trial in Barcelona for tax fraud.
According to the Associated Press, Shakira will receive a three-year suspended sentence and pay a fine of 7.3 million euros ($8 million). In addition, she will pay another fine of 432 thousand euros (US$472 thousand) in exchange for the suspended sentence.
The deal includes a plea of guilty to tax fraud, which will likely impact a separate, pending tax case.
Spanish prosecutors said in July they would seek a prison sentence of eight years and two months, as well as a fine of 24 million euros ($26 million) for the singer. In today’s court proceedings, she confirmed six accusations of non-payment to the Spanish government of 14.5 million euros (about 15.8 million dollars) in taxes between 2012 and 2014.
In a statement released to the press through her spokesperson, Shakira said: “I made the decision to finally resolve this matter with the best interests of my children in mind, who do not want to see their mother sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight. I need to overcome the stress and emotional exhaustion of the last few years and focus on the things I love, my children and all the opportunities that will arise in my career.”
Last year, Deadline reported that Shakira, the star and executive producer of the NBC show Dancing with myself reality competition show, said he was not primarily resident in Spain during the period in question. But the prosecutor alleged that Shakira “normally resided in Spain between 2012 and 2014 and in May 2012 she purchased a house in Barcelona.”
