Shakira strikes Sh2.9 billion plea deal to avoid tax evasion charges

'Hips Don't Lie' hitmaker Shakira has finally laid her tax fraud case to rest.

The 46 year old Colombian singer decided not to fight the charges levied against her in a courtroom in Spain and instead moved to settle her issues with the government personally.

Shakira through her legal team cut a plea deal in the case and agreed to pay millions in fines. The mother of two was handed a a fine of $7.6 million inclusive of the taxes, plus interest.

Adding all that up the multi-award winning entertainer is in for a settlement of about $19 million now. That translates to about Sh.2.9 billion.

However, the star isn't sweating it, considering her net worth, but also because the fine is less than what the prosecutors were asking for. Prosecutors wanted more than double the fine that she was slapped with plus jail time for the star. 

On why she decided to settle rather than engage in a court battle Shakira said she did not want her kids to see their mom in that state.

"I wanted to spare my children seeing their mother sacrifice her well-being. I admire tremendously those who have fought these injustices to the end, but for me, today, winning is getting my time back for my kids and my career," the singer candidly said.

The star was accused of tax evasion in 2018. Prosecutors said she was living in Spain between 2012 and 2014 while listing her official residence elsewhere. She was accused of failing to pay $15.8 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014 and set to receive a suspended 3-year sentence.

People who spend more than six months in the country are considered residents for tax purposes. But Shakira says she did not mainly live in Spain at the time.

A document from prosecutors seen by Reuters claims Shakira bought a house in Barcelona in 2012, which became a family home for her and her then-partner, Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué.

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